Health equity is the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. Achieving this requires doctors and all types of clinicians to know and address health disparities.
A health disparity is an avoidable and unfair difference in health status between segments of the population. Social determinants of health contribute to health disparities that negatively affect groups of people who have experienced greater obstacles to health based on their race, ethnicity, education, literacy, income level, language, culture, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability or geographic location.
Cost Efficiency and Health Equity
Health disparities are also expensive for the health care system. Deloitte estimates that health disparities cost the U.S. approximately $320 billion annually. Left unchecked, this financial impact could balloon to more than $1 trillion annually by 2040.
To best address the obstacles preventing us from promoting and reaching health equity for all - providers, payers, communities, governments, and corporations must work together to implement creative solutions that solve the root problem. Although this requires a multifaceted approach, value-based care models serve a critical role, offering health care providers greater flexibility in how they tackle the challenges.
Because of the reimbursement structures of value-based programs, providers can approach patient care more holistically, designing programs to improve health equity, expand care access to underserved populations, foster communication, and strengthen patient-provider relationships. Such models also emphasize proactive care and robust information sharing, which can lower care costs and reduce waste—two factors currently ramping up the cost of health inequities.
Value-based Care Strategies Lead to Health Equity Improvements
1. Improved Health Access to Underserved Populations
Virtual care is a pivotal aspect in promoting health equity and is often used by providers in value-based care models. Delivering care over the phone or via secure video conferencing allows providers to connect with patients who live far away or may struggle to get to the doctor due to a lack of transportation or poor health. Not every type of appointment lends itself to telehealth, but this modality works well for certain interventions, such as routine follow-ups, mental health appointments, and other visits that don’t require a physical examination.
2. Stronger Connections to Foster Community Health Improvement
Value-based care encourages whole-person care that goes beyond the clinic walls. By partnering with organizations such as food banks, senior citizen groups, and public health agencies, doctors can improve patient care and engagement with diverse populations. Doctors, and health care practices, should help address some of the social and environmental factors that negatively impact their patients’ health. These resources can help enable healthier food choices, facilitate more social connections, provide greater opportunities for exercise, and connect patients with other interventions that can help them stay healthy.
3. Enhanced Care Coordination for All
A key feature of value-based care reimbursement models is improved care coordination. This is a priority for value-based care arrangements. Providers leverage technology to stay in contact with one another and work together to support each patient’s journey toward better health. Robust information sharing also helps avoid duplication and limit waste, which can curb the costs of care. When patients can easily view and share their health care data, it improves care engagement and allows the individual to partner with providers to make educated choices about the next steps.
4. More Focused Patient Time
Value-based care is designed to allow more time for patient interaction, enabling providers to offer personalized education and interventions. Because providers who participate in value-based care arrangements are not tied to specific visit types and lengths, they can spend more time with patients, listening to their concerns, and offering targeted education and interventions that meet patient needs. Provider organizations can also use physician assistants and nurse practitioners to handle routine and preventive screenings, allowing physicians to focus on those patients who require their level of experience.
5. Enhanced Communication Between Care Visits
Value-based care models enable the use of care coordinators and patient education specialists, allowing provider organizations to routinely connect with patients outside of the appointment and keep them engaged on next steps regarding their health. Providers can also ensure that everyone in their patient population is scheduled for a physical early in the year—a vital strategy for identifying issues proactively and decreasing costs.
Although value-based care models will not eliminate health disparities on their own, they can be part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce differences between populations, promote health equity, and improve the health and wellness of communities across the country.
To learn more, contact us today and explore the rest of our resources for more perspectives on how value-based care benefits both patients and doctors.