Study finds little change in payment for chronic disease
Barriers to reforming payment for chronic disease to foster high-quality, efficient care include a fragmented health care delivery system, the potential for lower revenues and a lack of insurance coverage for non-physician services, according to a new study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). The authors interviewed health plans, employer groups and others to explore current and planned payment methods and incentives for chronic disease care.
“Existing payment systems, primarily fee for service, encourage a piecemeal approach to care delivery rather than a coordinated approach appropriate for patients with chronic conditions,” said HSC President Paul Ginsburg. The study found efforts to reform payment methods generally have been limited to experiments and small pilot projects, and concludes that reform will be difficult without intense political pressure.