Bundled Payments Lower Physician Healthcare Costs
Here’s a breakdown of the article, summarizing the key findings and information:
Main Point:
A study found that participation in the Bundled Payments for Care Betterment Advanced (BPCI-A) program was associated with reduced spending for lower-extremity joint replacement, whether the care was provided by physician groups, hospitals, or both. The study highlights the importance of including physician groups in future value-based care models.
Key Findings:
Reduced Spending: Physician group participation in BPCI-A was linked to a $855 reduction in total spending, while hospital participation resulted in a $600+ reduction over a 90-day period. Shift in Post-acute Care: BPCI-A participation led to lower institutional post-acute care utilization.Physician groups saw an increase in outpatient visits post-discharge, while hospitals saw an increase in home health utilization.
Large Volume of Care by Physician Groups: Physician groups handle a significant portion of joint replacement cases, making their inclusion in value-based care models crucial.
Data Source: The study analyzed Medicare claims data from 846,529 beneficiaries who underwent lower-extremity joint replacement between april 2016 and September 2019.Study Details:
Participants:
281,189 patients treated by physicians in BPCI-A
69,107 patients treated by hospitals in BPCI-A
28,309 patients treated by both physicians and hospitals in BPCI-A
467,924 patients treated by physicians and hospitals not in BPCI-A
Focus: Spending and post-acute care utilization.
Expert Quote:
Aidan P. Crowley emphasized the need to consider physician groups when designing future value-based care payment models, given their substantial role in providing this type of care.
Contact Information:
Aidan P. Crowley: aidan.crowley@pennmedicine.upenn.edu