Medicare Shared Savings Program Performance Year 2022 Expenditure Trends
The healthcare continuum is a constantly shifting landscape, an intricate web of settings and care levels that's ever-evolving with innovation and transformation. But here's the question: While we often refer to it as the "healthcare continuum," what does this complex journey really look like from a patient's perspective? Is it a straight line, a circle, or perhaps a web of interconnected settings and providers?
For patients, the experience across this continuum can be like navigating a maze, with an extensive and complex list of services and providers, often lacking the seamless coordination they deserve. Whether dealing with acute conditions or chronic exacerbations, patients and their care teams face an array of challenges in determining the best care setting at any given moment. Access, coverage, regulatory guidelines, assessments, and financial considerations are just a few of the factors that come into play.
But here's the heart of the matter: Navigating the healthcare continuum isn't just challenging for patients; it can also pose a significant dilemma for the dedicated care teams providing advice and making these crucial determinations.
So, here's the real question: Have innovative payment models like the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) succeeded in creating a more coordinated and compassionate continuum of care? It's clear that Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) must set their sights on a strategic focus that promotes the right setting of care, one that enhances quality while curbing costs.
Now, let's delve into some of the compelling MSSP trends regarding expenditures in various care settings. In 2022, a total of 482 ACOs took part in the MSSP, and a remarkable 63% of them generated shared savings, leading to a total of $2.52 billion in payments to the ACOs.
The publicly reported MSSP data paints a vivid picture of post-acute care expenditures, encompassing inpatient long-term care, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), and home health services. As we explore the data, it becomes evident that the average annual per capita expenditures for these categories have seen some fluctuations. In 2022, these expenditures experienced a 4% increase from the previous year, yet they have decreased by 7% since the performance year of 2016. It's worth noting that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the lowest expenditure levels seen in 2020 and 2021. Interestingly, inpatient rehab expenditures have shown a notable 19% increase since 2016.
Let's use this data as a compass to navigate the healthcare continuum with renewed dedication and compassion, always with the patient's best interests at the forefront. 🌟💼 #PatientExperience #HealthcareInnovation #MSSPInsights #MedicareSharedSavingsProgram
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