By Andy Metzger <\/p>\n
State House News Service <\/p>\n
BOSTON -- With 75 percent of its business already coming from \"value-based\" alternatives to the fee-for-service payment model, Atrius Health believes it has the experience to help guide policy recommendations as part of a new national group aimed at bettering health care. <\/p>\n
\"We have always been there, back to the founding,\" said Emily Brower, executive director of Atrius Accountable Care Programs. <\/p>\n
Accountable-care organizations take on the responsibility for providing health care without the a-la-carte payment method, and many in the health-policy world see them as a vehicle to encourage more efficient and better care. The Newton-based health-care provider group joined the new Health Care Transformation Task Force, which aims to improve outcomes and efficiency in the health field. <\/p>\n
Brower told the News Service organizations seeking to provide \"value-based\" health must first have a \"foundation\" of quality services and look for gaps in their infrastructure for treating particular maladies. <\/p>\n
\"That can be hard to put that together,\" said Brower. She said when other providers move toward \"value-based\" delivery \"that helps us tremendously,\" and she said payers have \"absolutely\" become more amenable to that model of payment. <\/p>\n
Atrius was formed in 2004 and consisted of Dedham Medical Associates, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Southboro Medical Group and South Shore Medical Center. <\/p>\n
Partners HealthCare, the largest provider organization in Massachusetts, announced Wednesday it would increase its \"value-based\" business from 50 percent to 75 percent in its primary-care operations over the next five years. Partners is also part of the task force, which set the 75 percent goal. <\/p>\n
Brower said high-deductible health-insurance plans can mesh with the aims of accountable-care organizations as long as they do not discourage patients from seeking preventative care. <\/p>\n
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Atrius part of national health-care task force<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Andy Metzger State House News Service BOSTON -- With 75 percent of its business already coming from \"value-based\" alternatives to the fee-for-service payment model, Atrius Health believes it has the experience to help guide policy recommendations as part of a new national group aimed at bettering health care. \"We have always been there, back to the founding,\" said Emily Brower, executive director of Atrius Accountable Care Programs. Continue reading