Health Care Leaders Expect Shift Toward Outpatient Care April 30, 2013 Health Care Reform Accountable Care Organization, Outpatient care, Premier Healthcare Alliance, ACO 0 As the care delivery models of hospitals and health systems evolve, health care executives and practice area managers predict a major shift in admissions from inpatient to outpatient settings. According to Premier Healthcare Alliance's Spring 2013 Economic Outlook, 69% of the survey participants predict that outpatient volume will rise in 2013, as compared to last year's volume. And as outpatient admissions are projected to increase, nearly 24% of respondents suggest that inpatient volume this year will drop. “With reimbursement cuts and changes in care delivery threatening today's status quo, health care providers face a significant change imperative as they transition toward more accountable, value-based care models,” Mike Alkire, CEO of Premier, said in a news release. “Ensuring patients are cared for in the most efficient manner—without compromising quality—is key to success. This means more care is being shifted to less intensive and expensive outpatient care sites, with lower reimbursement rates.” In fact, nearly half of survey participants—48%—cited reimbursement cuts as having the greatest impact on their organizations, though the largest expenditures are expected to go toward healthcare information technology and telecommunications, according to 43% of those surveyed. That's up 21% from two years ago. Respondents also pointed to accountable care organizations as a method for integrating care across the continuum. About 22% are currently involved in an ACO, and that number is expected to more than double by the end of next year. Source: Modern Healthcare, April 29, 2013. Comments are closed.
