Welcome to this week's issue of VBC Newsstand brought to you by VBCExhibitHall.com
The proposed changes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for calendar year (CY) 2023 may offer incentives for provider groups to consider alternative payment models. Still, the policies will likely require more apparent benefits to significantly impact the shift to value-based care. The CY 2023 PFS proposed rule included changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and a conversion factor decrease—two updates that are unlikely to have a blanket effect on accountable care organization (ACO) participation, according to Jake Harper and Felicia Alexander, healthcare attorneys with Morgan Lewis.
Providers and payers are increasingly addressing the health-related social needs (HRSNs) of their patients to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and address health disparities. As this practice takes hold in the field, the landmark Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model test that launched in 2017 has now ended. AHC was the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) first model test focused on evaluating HRSN screening, referral, and navigation. It was built on emerging interventions in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid health homes, and home and community-based services programs. Early evidence from the AHC Model is promising, and there are many lessons to share as we aim to continue addressing HRSNs and social determinants of health for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Two physician healthcare policy leaders are offering an examination of the value-based delivery and payment movement in healthcare from a health equity perspective, and have concluded that, while healthcare reimbursement reform can provide one element in moving the needle on health equity, it alone cannot provide a vehicle that will transform the U.S. healthcare system towards becoming more equitable. In their critique, they take direct aim at some of the benchmarks and other elements built into accountable care organization (ACO) alternative payment model (APM) contracts, and make very pragmatic suggestions as to how to improve such programs in order to advance health equity goals.

A new report, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, summarizes interviews with executives at 21 organizations involved in value-based care. The report focuses on the barriers to and facilitators of data integration in support of value-based care. Conducted by researchers at the Urban Institute and HealthTech Solutions, the report noted that interviewees identified four primary uses for data integration in value-based care: point of care, care coordination, quality measurement and reporting, and population health.
Sponsored Webinars
UPCOMING WEBINARS:

Last chance to decide between MSSP and REACH
  • Topic: Considerations from financial opportunity and risk exposure perspective in choosing MSSP or REACH
Sponsored by: Validate Health
August 23, 2022 | 1 PM EST

Using Your PY 2021 Settlement for PY 2023 Selections by Sept 9th
  • Topic: Common questions about settlement calculations and specific examples of settlement reports
Sponsored by: Validate Health
Expected August 24 - August 31, 2022 (date TBD) | 1 PM EST

Solving Your Interoperability Issues: How to Integrate Data and Not Break the Bank
  • Topic: Solving interoperability issues, including evaluating vendors, keeping projects on track and on time, and proactively planning for data drifts
Sponsored by: Healthjump
August 25, 2022 | 1 PM EST

How a Shared Care Program Can Save People’s Vision While Improving ROI
  • Topic: How shared care programs can be enabled to help patients with diabetic retinopathy
Sponsored by: Topcon Healthcare
September 13, 2022 | 1 PM EST

What can still be done to impact 2022 shared savings
  • Topic: How to make the most of the remainder of 2022 to improve shared savings
Sponsored by: Validate Health
September 14, 2022 | 1 PM EST

RECORDED WEBINARS:

Your Roadmap to Building a Robust Health Equity Plan to Succeed in ACO REACH
  • Topic: Preparing for ACO REACH requirements
Sponsored by: CareSignal

Financial Changes in the Proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
  • Topic: Understanding the proposed 2023 MPFS and its potential effects on PY 2023 and 2024 decisions, including considerations around benchmark
Sponsored by: Validate Health

Check our our Webinar Archive to view past webinars on a variety of value-based care related topics!

Upcoming Conferences
RISE West 2022
Aug. 31 - Sep. 2, 2022 | Los Angeles, CA

Florida Association of ACOs (FLAACOs) Annual Conference
October 17 - 19, 2022 | Orlando, FL

HLTH 2022
November 13 - 16, 2022 | Las Vegas, NV
FLASH INTERVIEW
This week's focus: Closing the Care Gap with
Diabetic Retinal Screenings
Each week we showcase one of our solution providers in a 4-5 minute interview and ask them what they bring to the VBC Community and what sets them apart. 
Today's guest:
The Diabetes Eye Exam quality measure is commonly referred to as one of the most difficult care gaps to close. Since up to 50% of diabetic patients lack documentation of a retinal eye exam, ACOs and practices spend a significant amount of administrative time each year chasing charts to close this measure. Topcon supports practices to close this care gap at point of care with Topcon Screen to improve care coordination and risk adjustment within the diabetes population. This service takes less than 2 minutes per patient, is reimbursed by most insurance companies and meets the HEDIS specification for the Diabetes Eye Exam.
Platinum Level Exhibitors
Thank you to our Platinum Level exhibitors. These organizations offer the absolute highest quality products & services to the ACO & IPA comty. To learn more & visit their interactive booths, click on the logos below:
Gold Level Exhibitors
Thank you to our Gold Level exhibitors. To learn more & visit their interactive booths, click on the logos below:
Feature your organization here! -- Find out How

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine