Health care is in transition in Faulkner County.

Conway Regional Health System is accountable to the community to provide high quality, compassionate health care services. The mission statement sets the expectations for every person who wears a Conway Regional badge.

This means the work lives of the Conway Regional staff should be dedicated to making decisions that will lead to the highest quality care for patients in Faulkner and surrounding counties. This level of accountability flows from the board of directors down to everyone in the organization including both clinical and non-clinical staff.

The challenge of delivering on these expectations is growing as we transition into a new era of accountability in providing health care. Health systems are encouraged to provide more creative, smarter answers to delivering on those expectations. The Conway Regional Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team are tasked with responding to these opportunities.

The way hospitals, physicians and other providers are reimbursed is changing.

Health care reimbursement is transitioning from a fee for service system in which providers (such as Medicare and Medicaid) pay based on the number of services or tests conducted, to a system where providers are paid more for improving outcomes and driving value. Under the new system, providers are being paid based on improved care experiences, improved health of populations and lower per capita costs.

The challenge currently is that most of the payment is based on volume but as more and more of the payment moves to outcomes or improving overall health, providers will have to change their focus and processes to respond. The challenge is to know when to shift from the fee for service model to the value based model when they have conflicting incentives.

Growing government regulations and expectations have begun placing about 5 percent of hospitals federal reimbursement at risk annually. Other payers are also moving more and more of their payment to a value based formula. We have seen and will continue to see different models (such as bundled payments, primary care medical homes and others) as we search for the best way to drive improved outcomes and reduced costs, said Jim Lambert, Conway Regional Health Systems President and CEO.

The Affordable Care Act has resulted in significant changes in the countrys insurance structure to help many formerly uninsured or under insured people pay for health care. The cost of uncompensated care remains significant for the nations health care facilities, including Conway Regional.

In 2013 Conway Regional provided more than $10 million in uncompensated care. This means medical services for which no payment is received. Uncompensated care includes charity care and bad debts.

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Business Journal: Health care changes offer challenges and opportunities for Conway Regional