Moving Intelligent Change Forward
January, 2018 Vol. 1 - In This Issue:
2018 starts with some thought-provoking articles on two of my favorite themes: the patient perspective and the quest to define value. The dramatic challenges ahead - confronting addiction treatment, addressing price and affordability and ensuring access to preventive care AND treatment - require faithful and attentive stewardship of both. 

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Well-Informed Patients Play a Key Role in Value-Based Care

As many as 50 million Americans are living with an autoimmune disease today. Many autoimmune diseases are difficult to treat, and it can take up to four years to get an autoimmune diagnosis, costing each person on average $50,000.
 
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The Envelope

When I move to shake hands with Jack, a 70-year-old new patient and my last of the morning, I see the large white envelope. Records, most likely. Perhaps because of noticing the way he clings to it, or perceiving his urgency, I interrupt my usual routine of logging on to the computer and preparing the history template.
"Is that something you would like me to see?" I ask, eyeing the envelope. He hands it to me, looking relieved.   
 
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Change Healthcare Research Finds States Remain Committed to Value-Based Payment Models 


Alternative payment programs are now firmly rooted in state-level healthcare policy, as discussions regarding health reform continue in Washington. That's according to a new national study commissioned by Change Healthcare which finds over 40 states pursuing value-based payment programs, with 15 multi-payer initiatives across those states.  
 
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U.S. Life Expectancy Falls Again

Life expectancy at birth in the U.S. fell slightly in 2016 -- to 78.6 years from 78.7 years in 2015, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
The changes are the first consecutive declines in life expectancy at birth since the early 1960s, the CDC said, and they come  3 years after the record high of 78.8 years.     
 
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What Does 'Value' Mean in Healthcare? 

 
Is it all about service, or quality or cost? Patients, employers and physicians have conflicting notions of what constitutes value, and that could have costly consequences for the $3.3 trillion healthcare sector.
What do we mean when we talk about healthcare "value"?
It depends upon who's talking.

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The Power of Words in Healthcare: A Patient-Friendly Lexicon. Top 10 List #WordsDoMatter Project

Language has a magical influence on the lives we lead, with an impact on our thoughts, emotions, and/or actions. The words we use are one of the most potent ingredients in the science of language. Words have the power to heal, guide and motivate. They can confuse, mislead, and even hurt us. 
 
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Determining Value and Price in Health Care

Paying for value is all the rage in health care, and recently the spotlight has been brightest on prescription drugs (http://bit.ly/2a0Oy5E). It's hard to argue with the notion that how much we pay for a drug should be related to the value it provides. Hard to argue, that is, until you try to pin down whose value counts, what valuemeans, or how much to pay for it.
 
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Our Flawed Health Care System: Philanthropy Can Give Consumers A Voice, A Stage, And A Seat At The Table

Empowering Health Care Consumers, a priority area of the New York State Health Foundation, was the subject of a November 2017 conference, hosted by that funder in New York City. It drew 300 health care stakeholders from around the country and featured Elisabeth Rosenthal, editor-in-chief of Kaiser Health News, as the keynote speaker. Two panels focused on areas central to NYSHealth's work: patients as partners and information transparency.
 
Passion + Quality = Change That Matters
  
I embrace the powerful opportunities in our evolving health care landscape. I founded Momentum Health Strategies to be a catalyst for change through continuous learning, diverse engagement and thoughtful policy and practice initiatives. I deliver innovative, strategic thinking and a passion for improving the patient experience. My personal drive and dedication to high-quality results will help you navigate the competitive terrain you face and convert your vision to action.

Momentum Health Strategies

Jennifer L Bright, MPA
(703) 628 - 0534