Aligning Value-Based Reimbursement with Physician Practice Transformation

In its quest to transform 70 to 80 percent of its physician practices to a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) over the next three years, WellPoint has adopted a "meet the practices where they are" philosophy, reports Julie Schilz, director of care delivery transformation for WellPoint. Each practice is at a different place in the transformation effort and requires specialized supports, she adds. Smoothing the transformation rollout is the simultaneous participation of 500 WellPoint practices in CMS's Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) program, whose goals dovetail with key PCMH principles --- as though WellPoint had another partner in its transformation initiative, Schilz notes. Just as important as practice support is transparency with health plan members, Schilz adds, especially when it comes to explaining the concept of the medical home neighborhood --- where care coordination is a collaboration between primary care and the specialist. Ms. Schilz shared the key features of WellPoint's transformation initiative, including results from its pilot program that have led to a system-wide rollout, during an October 24, 2013 webinar, "Aligning Value-Based Reimbursement with Physician Practice Transformation."