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4 Factors Driving Resurgence in the
As healthcare organizations seek the infrastructure to respond to emerging payment models like accountable care organizations (ACOs), bundled payments, narrow networks and direct contracts, the physician-hospital organization (PHO) model is experiencing a resurgence nationwide.
In case you missed this webinar, you still have a chance to watch this highly-rated program. Register to view the conference today or order your training DVD or CD:
The first most immediate driver is independent physician alignment, says Mr. Ansel. While most markets are mature in terms of employment, there are still a number of markets where there are a significant number of independent physicians in key specialties. In these areas, the PHO model is more of an initial catchall type of alignment model, one that creates a loose tie between the hospital and the physicians in the market, and provides value to the physicians in terms of being protected as part of a larger group without having to become employed. One benefit for the hospitals is that they can align independent physicians en masse and create common incentives, instead of having to negotiate alignment models or arrangements with all independent physicians in their market. The second driver is the increasing mutual accountability for quality and cost across providers. In the wake of transitioning payment models under payment and insurance reform, insurers and payors are trying to drive mutual accountability for patient costs to physicians and hospitals. The PHO is an appropriate response for those providers to work together to manage the cost of a population and of an episode of care in order to make sure everybody's successful. The third factor driving resurgence in PHO activity is the consolidation and distribution of resources that will allow providers to be successful in managing quality and cost. As healthcare reform and payment reform mature, information technology (IT) competencies, clinical competencies, care coordination practices, and exploring the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) concept are often unrealistic at the individual practice level. The PHO gives physicians and hospitals the platform to work on those care competencies together, build them in one place and then distribute them to PHO members — a "win-win for everybody," Mr. Ansel says. The final driver is the need for an effective framework for clinical integration. While there are already a number of clinically integrated organizations around the country, "For the bottom 90 percent of healthcare organizations in the country, clinical integration is still that thing that's on our to-do list, but it always gets bumped to the back of the to-do list; because, we have more immediate needs, or more immediate strategic priorities," Mr. Ansel says. Clinically integrated models are needed as a strategy to respond to payment reform, to allow joint contracts between physicians and hospitals, and to enable sharing of payments effectively, whether those are shared savings payments, bundled payments, etc. You can "attend" this program right in your office and learn: the factors driving resurgence in PHO activity; a clinical integration strategy; dealing with value-based payment models; why PHOs are going to work this time; key PHO considerations, including legal and governance issues, physician complement and internal capabilities; and the future of PHOs. It's so convenient! Invite your staff members to watch the conference. We will send you a DVD or CD-ROM of the conference proceedings or a link to our web site with a username and password. You can log in and view the program right from your computer — any time of the day or night, whenever convenient for you and your colleagues — and benefit from the archived recording of the conference, including the Q&A period. You'll get to listen to the question and answer session to hear: how PHOs should prepare for the eventual inclusion of post-acute care in their networks; the pros and cons of an inclusive and exclusive approach to including physicians in a PHO; what constitutes a super PHO; key performance metrics for PHOs and how these are evolving; and the critical role of clinical leadership when developing the governing body for the PHO. To register for the on-demand re-broadcast, download an .MP3 file or order the training DVD or CD-ROM of Preparing for Value-Based Reimbursement Models: PHO Development for ACOs, Bundled Payments and Direct Contracting, please visit:
I hope you find it useful. Cordially, Melanie Matthews
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