Value-Based Payment program presents potential ramifications
Ophthalmologists need to prepare their practices for the Value-Based Payment (VBP) program for Medicare services. VBP is a strategy to promote quality and value of health care services, with providers being paid based on value-of-care-delivered rather than volume. Regardless of the perspectives, the fact remains that reimbursement can increase or decrease substantially with the VBP program.
Now is the time for ophthalmologists to take a leadership role and become engaged in preparing their practices for the forthcoming Value-Based Payment (VBP) program for Medicare services, said Ruth D. Williams, MD.
Dr. Williams explained that according to purchasers, VBP is a strategy to promote quality and value of health care services. In short, providers will be paid based on value-of-care-delivered rather than volume. However, she presented other more cynical views, including the idea that VBP is a way of cutting physician reimbursement under the guise of talking about quality. She outlined these concerns during the Glaucoma Symposium CME at the
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Regardless of the perspective, the fact remains that reimbursement can increase or decrease substantially with the VBP program. That underscores the need for ophthalmologists to listen and learn so they can gear up and reap an increase in Medicare reimbursement.
“You can play the quality game,” said Dr. Williams, who is in private practice in Wheaton, IL. “Although the reality part of my brain tells me it is getting harder and harder to be in an independent practice, I am confident that we will be able to make the necessary adjustments and continue to do well. The optimist’s view is that the new program is a venue for refining quality care and modeling how ophthalmology services can be provided in this era of complex health care delivery.”