Advancing Health Equity with Value-Based Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed – and in some cases exacerbated – many challenges in our healthcare system, not the least of which are the systemic healthcare inequalities experienced by so many across the care continuum. Social determinants of health, or the range of social, environmental, and economic factors that influence an individual’s heath status, had (and continue to have) a large impact on quality of care, priority of care, and health outcomes. The pandemic brought social and racial inequity to the forefront of public health and in doing so, made improving the health of all a critical priority.

Still, most of the major drivers of healthcare outcomes and costs are not within an individual’s control. Where a person is born, the color of their skin and their socioeconomic status effect their access to and receipt of quality care. We believe we can help address this disparity and move healthcare forward by grounding providers in data and accelerating the move towards value-based care, helping to provide incentives for care delivery providers to invest in systems improvements that reduce health disparities.

Data-sharing can enhance care delivery

Payers, risk-bearers, and governments are increasing their focus on tackling these underlying issues to help drive better care. In January, for example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a roadmap outlining how states can improve social determinants of health and reinforce their value-based care approach using Medicaid flexibilities.

Maximizing the potential of value-based care across the full care continuum can help us continue this momentum. Efficient data and information sharing is critical to this effort and to informing the planning, delivery, and coordination of care. With the right data, care providers can derive differentiated insight into the interventions that may enable an enhanced patient outcome. Ultimately, this can lead to ensuring an appropriate length of stay for patients, reduced readmissions, and improved care efficiencies. Data driven insights also eliminate any provider identity biases, focusing on how data can drive better outcomes regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or geography.

Tailored care = improved outcomes

In a recent survey of consumers and their perception of value-based care, we found the majority of consumers support a healthcare system where providers are compensated based on care quality versus volume. Additionally, 85% of consumers think physicians should be more focused on providing quality patient care.

Care equity starts with care quality. A big part of providing quality care is understanding that each patient arrives at a facility with a unique background and diverse set of values, beliefs, and behaviors. Under a value-based care model, providers are able to better tailor care delivery based on these elements, with all decisions backed by real-time data and insights.