“All of these different models focused foremost on patients,” Dr. Terrell said. “They also focused on teamwork. Even though physicians were leading the team, it involved integrated medicine. It also involved integration across the spectrum of care so we had to work very carefully with our hospital partners.”
Collaboration is a critical piece to quality-based success, Mr. Dunkelberger said, but he advises taking the time and effort to find the right partners. Thoroughly vet potential partners, he said. Ask for case studies and overall impact of work. Be wary of flashy flowcharts and “too good to be true” promises.
“Look for a partner and not [necessarily] a vendor,” Mr. Dunkelberger said. “Make sure their incentives align with yours.”
Take stock of readiness to participate in alternative payment models, advised Edith Coakley Stowe, a health care attorney in Washington. The ability to meet electronic health record expectations, a category under MACRA now called Advancing Care Information, is extremely important, she said. Equally important – especially in primary care – are strategies for managing patients between visits. Decide whether your practice should build, buy, or enter into a joint venture to achieve these goals.
“The good news is that what gets tested in alternative payment models generally finds its way into policies and programs applicable across the Medicare program,” Ms. Stowe said in an interview. “That means that participants in alternative payment models get a head start. Despite the blind corners and complexity of options facing physician groups right now, having a mentality of testing, trying, and continuously evaluating is going to stand them in the best stead.”
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