Call for Expert Help
215-658-1776

Request a Free Medicare Quote

Call for Expert Help
215-658-1776

Free Medicare Quote

Part Two- How Medicare Might Look in the Future- Geisinger Model

21 March 2013
admin
No comments
Categories: Medicare Articles

Part Two- How Medicare Might Look in the Future-  Geisinger Model

06/05/2012 There was a great cover story in this weeks Time magazine that discussed how Geisinger is radically changing the delivery of health care. Currently, we are all used to fragmented care. We see our primary physician who performs a series of tests. We might see a cardiologist, who performs the same testing. We might see another specialist, who does her own test. Each one of these doctors might prescribe medication, with little regard to what other physicians are doing. Medicare makes seperate payments to providers who care for patients for a single illness, or a course of treatment. This leads to fragmented care with minimal coordination across providers and healthcare settings, such as provider and hospital. Medicare pays based on how much a provider does, nothow well the provider treats the patient.  Makes no sense, right? Well, that’s our current fee for service system-wasteful and possibly detrimental. A few healthcare systems are trying to change this. Geisinger, for example, has had great results-better patient care- with a bundles services approach. A lead doctor will coordinate care across all specialties. Technology will make it easier, less expensive, and provide a better patient experience. The results of this bundled approach are impressive- better outcome for patients and significant cost savings.  Under this bundled payment system, Medicare links payments for multiple services that patients receive during an episode of care.  For example, instead of a surgical procedure generating multiple claims from multiple providers, the entire team is compensated with a “bundled” payment. This radical change, rewarding quality and not quantity, in the delivery of care has led to improved care for patients,  better health, better care and lower costs.

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.