Value-based care continues to grow across healthcare. Sixty percent of payments are now tied to value or quality metrics. This trend is expected to continue, with Medicare setting a goal of transitioning 100% of beneficiaries into value-based payment programs by 2030.
In value-based payment models, providers are rewarded for delivering high-quality care at lower costs rather than simply being paid for volume. Since doctors only see patients a few times a year, this shift requires them to adopt innovative approaches to patient care that can support improving outcomes and reducing costs all year.
What Is Needed for Value-Based Care Success?
Because value-based care is all about better outcomes at a lower cost, success hinges on several factors:- Increased Focus on Preventive Care: Identifying and addressing health risks before they escalate into costly conditions.
- Patient Engagement: Actively involving patients in their care plans leads to better adherence and outcomes.
- Continuous Monitoring: Regular tracking of patient health metrics enables timely interventions and reduces avoidable emergencies.
- Care Coordination: Seamless communication among providers ensures comprehensive care delivery and prevents redundant services.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging health data for clinical decisions improves care quality and efficiency.
What Does an Effective Heart Health App for ACOs Look Like?
Eighty percent of patients need ongoing support to achieve lasting behavior changes, but most people only see their physician two to four times a year. The right heart health app bridges this gap by delivering personalized, continuous support using:- Behavioral science-based design that leverages proven engagement strategies from leading consumer platforms, making heart health management as intuitive and compelling as entertainment apps.
- Advanced technology that creates a personalized experience by synthesizing multiple data streams, delivering actionable insights and achievable goals tailored to each individual’s condition and lifestyle.
- An engaging digital experience that combines gamification with rich multimedia evidence-based clinical content, achieving measurable health improvements.
How Does a Heart Health App Lower Costs?
Digital health applications like the one described above offer a technological solution that addresses many challenges faced by ACOs in the value-based care environment. These tools can transform patient care while reducing costs in several ways:- Preventing acute cardiac events: Preventive care is always more cost-effective than acute or emergency care. By reducing risk factors and supporting long-term improvements in overall health, a heart health app can reduce the chances of a cardiac event. Patients using a digital health app with a program like cardiac rehab, reduced ED visits by as much as 63%.
- Reducing readmissions: Hospital readmissions are a big cost driver for ACOs. So reducing readmissions is a key focus for cost reduction. A heart health app that supports medication adherence, offers symptom checking, monitors vital signs, and provides pre and post-op care has the potential to reduce readmissions by as much as 52%.
- Improving administrative resource utilization: Administrative resources in healthcare have been stretched since the pandemic. A heart health app can help reduce staff burden in several ways. Most of those savings are related to reduced patient outreach to the clinic through phone, text, and portal with questions related to care plans, medications, and appointments. Healthcare systems implementing digital health solutions have reported operational cost reductions of up to 15% while maintaining or improving quality metrics.
