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AMA, Anthem to Identify, Promote High-value Care

News  |  By John Commins  
   March 02, 2018

The collaborative looks to improve patient healthcare literacy, develop value-based payment models, improve access to data and eliminate low-value prior authorizations.

The American Medical Association and Anthem, Inc. have formed a collaborative to identify and promote high-value, affordable healthcare.

"Physicians caring for patients across the country have many ideas about how we can reduce healthcare costs and administrative burdens while improving clinical outcomes, and we need the collaboration of Anthem and all health plans to implement those strategies," said AMA Board Chair Gerald E. Harmon, MD. "The AMA looks forward to finding common ground on ways to improve the delivery of affordable, high-quality, patient-centered care." 

This year, AMA and Anthem will look to:

  • Enhance consumer and patient healthcare literacy: Physicians and health plans can help enhance patients' understanding of health plan benefits, treatment selection and choice of care setting.
     
  • Enhance and implement value-based payment models for primary and specialty care physicians: Value-based payment models have the potential to improve clinical outcomes, care access and lower total costs, resulting in improved satisfaction for both consumers and healthcare professionals.
     
  • Improve access to timely, actionable data to enhance patient care: Physicians and health plans recognize the importance of leveraging data analytics to address gaps in care, achieve better outcomes and lower costs. Moreover, readily accessible data are critical for successful population health management.
     
  • Streamline and/or eliminate low-value prior-authorization requirements: As outlined in the consensus statement issued by the AMA, other healthcare professional associations and health plan organizations earlier this year, there are opportunities to improve the prior authorization process by eliminating low-value requirements and implementing policies to minimize delays in the continuity of care.

"Collaboration between payers and healthcare professionals is critical in order to evolve and advance our healthcare system to one that is simpler, more accessible and more affordable for consumers," said Craig Samitt, MD, chief clinical officer at Anthem.

John Commins is a content specialist and online news editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.


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