Forty-plus states have initiated a strategy to transition to value-based payment models, with nearly half of the initiatives spanning multiple payers, according to a Change Healthcare report.
For the study, researchers examined publicly available information compiled between May and August 2017, including state and federal sources.
Here are five findings from the study.
1. Six states have well-developed value-based strategies lasting at least four years.
2. Twenty-three states have value-based payment strategies at least two years in implementation, and 10 states are in the early stages of developing their value-based efforts.
3. Payer and providers in 23 states have agreed to achieve federally-initiated value-based payment targets or mandates.
4. In terms of managing cost and quality, 12 states have established or are eyeing an episodes of care approach, while 17 states have implemented or are considering adoption of ACOs or ACO-like models.
5. Change Healthcare identified five standout states in terms of breadth of their efforts, implementation of payment models with shared risk, and readiness to pursue innovative strategies. The states and their programs are as follows:
- Arkansas: Has a multipayer episodes of care program in place for five years
- Colorado: Has a well-developed Medicaid ACO program; works with payers and large employers to implement value-based payment
- Minnesota: An early adopter of episodes of care efforts; has moved into ACOs
- Tennessee: Set to unveil 76 episodes of care in its Medicaid and state employee programs by 2019
- Washington: Has committed to tying 80 percent of state-financed health payments to value by 2021; seeks similar commitments from commercial payers