A common misconception in healthcare practices: Organizations can quickly reap the benefits of value-based payment transformation. To launch a successful value-based payment program , practices must implement a variety of foundational pieces. It may take time, resources and data before a practice can successfully engage in VBP. In this blog, we'll cover what goes into VBP and its potential benefits. We'll also dig deeper into practice advancement strategies and how they can help you achieve your practice goals. What goes into VBP? Many practices want to implement VBP because of its payment structure and return on investment. Yet, they might not consider how to nurture a successful VBP program in their organization. It starts with a gap analysis regarding people, processes and technologies. It’s important to celebrate what is working well and intervene where improvement can be made. Successful VBP starts with the practice team. There are many perceptions vs. realities that exist...

Did you know that incomplete SPARCS data can delay Certificate of Need applications — all because of failure to stay within New York state SPARCS compliance? In this blog post, we’ll go over the importance of SPARCS compliance and its potential impact on your market growth. What is the Certificate of Need process? New York's CON process “governs establishment, construction, renovation and major medical equipment acquisitions of health care facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and diagnostic and treatment centers.” According to the New York State Department of Health , its objectives are “to promote delivery of high quality health care and ensure that services are aligned with community need” by providing DOH “oversight in limiting investment in duplicate beds, services and medical equipment which, in turn, limits associated health care costs.” 3 ways being out of SPARCS compliance can harm your growth If you don’t satisfy SPARCS requirements, your Artic...

CMS will select participants for the Making Care Primary model soon. Once accepted, primary care practices will have to decide whether they’ll join the MCP model. This is no easy decision. In this blog, we’ll cover what primary care practices should consider before joining MCP, focusing on readiness and model design. Learn what you need to know before officially joining MCP and beginning the onboarding process, from April to July 1, 2024. MCP model track eligibility When organizations applied to MCP in November, they selected from three tracks depending on their value-based care experience. Track 1 was designed for practices with little to no VBC experience. This was done to encourage small and rural practices to participate. However, participants starting in Track 1 will eventually move to Tracks 2 and 3 over the performance model years. When CMS accepts practices, providers may be found ineligible for the track for which they applied. In these cases, they may be eligible for, and CM...

Hospitals typically conduct a  Community Health Needs Assessment  to comply with state requirements or to maintain 501(c)3 status. However, emerging trends around health outcomes and health equity have sparked organizations to update and better align their CHNA processes toward highlighting community needs, equity, population health concerns, service access, affordability and quality. In a research study,  The National Library of Medicine  found that "Social determinants of health impact 80% of health outcomes from acute to chronic disorders, and attempts are underway to provide these data elements to clinicians." Because of the short- and  long-term effects of SDOHs , it's important that hospitals assess community needs. This way, they can find solutions to improve quality of life, identify underserved populations and establish connections with the community. What can your organization do to revamp its CHNA process to focus on community needs, equity, care acce...

New York enacted legislation last year requiring healthcare providers to contract with a third-party, referred to as an independent entity, to define if and how some proposed projects will impact health equity. Hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and other facilities must now, for many projects, provide a Health Equity Impact Assessment conducted by an independent entity as part of their Certificate of Need application. To help your organization complete these new requirements, we've highlighted five essential HEIA components. Read on for a distilled HEIA summary. Plus, learn how experienced assessment partners can facilitate successful expansion, amplify the community’s voice and improve health equity.  Health Equity Impact Assessment requirements Effective June 22, 2023, hospitals, ASCs and other Article 28 facilities in New York state must submit HEIA documentation with their CON applications. For projects requiring an HEIA, providers’ contracted independent entities must use ...

The purpose of a Community Health Assessment goes beyond achieving state requirements or receiving accreditation. If you're a local health department, you may be interested in finding ways to push your CHA data further to more easily identify ways to improve health equity and community outcomes. Focusing only on submission can be counter-productive to the community outcomes you want to achieve. In this blog, we'll give you an overview of the importance of conducting a CHA. Plus, we'll provide you with key information you can use to reset your workflow and rethink your processes. Why you need to complete a Community Health Assessment Certain states require a CHA because it provides a systematic review of a community's health status and essential data and information regarding the health of the community. Specifically, the New York state Department of Health writes, "Community health assessment is a fundamental tool of public health practice. Its aim is to describe...

Hospitals and health systems understand the importance of diligent healthcare strategic planning. It enables them to monitor their markets while evaluating potential challenges and opportunities. However, without the right healthcare data at their fingertips, these initiatives can be more time-consuming and less efficient. How are players in the healthcare industry using data in 2024 and beyond to drive their strategic planning efforts? Let's look at some pain points hospitals and health systems are facing. First, hospitals and health systems must contend with recurring data challenges related to interoperability, accuracy and privacy. Secondly, to keep up with a changing consumer landscape, providers must adjust workflows and projects based on new industry data. We've detailed each challenge below and provided three strategies to combat them. What data to use in your strategic planning 1. Claims data When it comes to strategic planning in healthcare in 2024, providers must wid...