October 12, 2017 — According to a recent survey, participation in bundled payments has improved the quality of care, and anticipation and preparation for new programs remains high. The survey — conducted by Archway Health, a Boston-based firm specializing in managing bundled payments programs — assessed the perceptions and efficacy of bundled payments ahead of the expected announcement of a new bundled payments program from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The survey results are based on responses from 70 participants across the United States. The participants, which included executives, administrators and clinicians, represented the continuum of healthcare from hospitals, specialty care, post-acute facilities and home healthcare.
Key findings from Archway’s survey indicate the impact of bundled payments:
- Seventy-five percent of respondents say involvement in these programs has improved quality of care, whether it lowered costs or not;
- Sixty-three percent of respondents say bundled payments has both improved quality and lowered cost; and
- The most prominent reason for not participating in bundled payments was the potential administrative burden. No respondents cited a limited return on investment as a reason for not participating.
“It was great to get such a strong and positive response that confirms what we’re seeing with our provider partners – bundled payments work,” said Dave Terry, founder and CEO of Archway Health. “Bundled payments will continue to play a major role in healthcare as we move from volume to value, especially as we move toward models that encourage efficiency and improvements in care quality.”
Other findings from the survey indicate healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards bundled payments:
- As CMS is expected to release a second generation of Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI), 75 percent of respondents are “definitely” or “probably” planning to participate; and
- When it comes to bundled payments, 25 percent of healthcare professionals say they are “100 percent ready” to implement them, while 56 percent are “getting prepared” or “just started the process” with more to do.
“It’s great to see that healthcare professionals want to participate in bundled payments and are actively preparing to do so,” said Keely Macmillan, general manager of BPCI for Archway Health. “Bundled payments offer clinicians and healthcare professionals the opportunity to take control of the entire care process and ensure patients achieve the best outcomes in a cost-efficient manner.”
For more information: www.archwayhealth.com
Related Content on Bundled Payments
CMS to Cancel Mandatory Cardiac Bundled Payments and Cardiac Rehabilitation Payment Model
Methodology and Approach to Preparing for Mandatory Cardiac Bundled Payments
July 29, 2024 
