The Government Accountability Office released a report examining the challenges for rural practices to implement value-based payments and how organizations can help them overcome these obstacles, according to a Medscape report.
Here are five things to know:
1. The top challenges include financial resources and risk management, health information technology, population health, quality and efficiency performance measures and reporting as well as the effects of participating in new payment models and managing compliance.
2. Value-based payments requires organizations to make a major investment in health IT and care coordinators, and it takes time to realize a return on investment. Rural facilities may not have the financial resources for implementation or staff who are able to lead the transformation.
3. The report recommended small practices need access to care management and cost control data that isn't always available for them currently. Staff development on EHR and data analytics would also be helpful.
4. Population health management is challenging because the population is spread over wide geographic regions in most rural areas.
5. Organizations that want to partner with rural practices can take on financial risk and provide them with services for value-based purchasing. Organizations can also help rural practices in a non-partnership capacity by providing support services.
Partners can also provide care coordination and help finance EHRs as well as help provide quality and efficiency improvement measures. Practices can hire non-partnership organizations or receive assistance through government grants for coaching and mentoring assistance.