Value-based Care Coalition Focuses on Independent Physicians

The newly formed Partnership to Empower Physician-Led Care will use education and advocacy to promote alternative payment models and consumer-directed care.

A group of prestigious medical associations from across the nation have formed an organization to promote value-based care in independent physician practices and speak up on their behalf.

The coalition, launched today, is called the Partnership to Empower Physician-Led Care. Founding members include: Aledade Inc.; the American Academy of Family Physicians; California Medical Association; Florida Medical Association; Medical Group Management Association; Texas Medical Association; and PracticeEdge.

"Independent doctors are often very tied into their communities, working with patients on the frontlines," says Tim Stapleton, CEO of Florida Medical Association. "These are exactly the types of providers who should be the center of the healthcare system of the future." 

PEPC Executive Director Kristen McGovern says independent physicians make up 45% of the physician workforce, so it's "impossible to achieve truly value-based care without a robust independent practice community."

"Our goal is to ensure that independent practices are recognized as a vital part of the healthcare system and are given a clear path to continue to contribute to this transformation," McGovern says.

PEPC says it will focus on education and advocacy to urge action on four policy priorities:

• Advancing physician-led alternative payment models;
   
• Ensuring an equitable policy framework that promotes choice and provider competition;
   
• Creating new opportunities for physicians in commercial markets such as Medicare Advantage;
   
• Supporting consumer-directed care.

McGovern says other stakeholders often don't realize that independent practices are able to take risk for their patients, or that independent practices can lead alternative payment models like accountable care organizations, often with better results.

She pointed to a report on the Medicare Shared Savings Program which found that 45% of physician-only ACOs earned savings, and that they were more likely to do so than other types of ACOs.