Value-based care can lead to further inequity between payers and practices
While value-based care (VBC) has obvious benefits for patients, we need to make sure that therapy providers and clinicians aren’t getting the short end of the stick.
Here are some points of consideration best taken together than in isolation:
👉 Payers rarely reduce member premiums, they actually tend to INCREASE them over time.
👉 Value based healthcare focuses on a reduction of overall costs/expenditures.
👉 Operating costs for healthcare provider agencies – including provider compensation among other costs – are on the rise.
👉 Provider margins are not rising proportionately with payer margins, and in some cases are not rising.
👉 Some well known downsides of VBC on providers: Increased demands, increased caseloads, less sustainable work environment.
👉 This perpetuates burnout and turnover which has adverse impacts on clinic operations and client experience.
👉 The argument that funder savings will be reinvested into quality of care should be considered in terms of perspective, data, and history.
I encourage clinicians and ABA business operators to source balanced information on this important topic so you can have an informed voice in this important conversation.
Thoughts?
Brandon Herscovitch, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D
Partners Behavioral Health can help with your clinical and business standards, compliance, and outcomes. We can help you scale an ethical ABA practice you’re proud about.
