Moving Away from Fee-for-Service Model

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation published an article earlier this month about the efforts in Wisconsin to move from the traditional fee-for-service model of paying for healthcare, to more innovative, cost-effective methods. Two Wisconsin healthcare organizations, ThedaCare and Bellin Health, joined forces in 2011to form a Pioneer ACO (Accountable Care Organization) under the CMS Shared Savings program. The results in 2012 were 4.6% lower cost for Medicare beneficiaries in northeast Wisconsin – the best performing Pioneer ACO nationwide based on per capita cost.

While more than 80% of the reimbursement for Medicare patients is still fee-for-service, the ACO’s efforts show that there is a better way. Dr. John Toussaint, CEO of the ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value, has been a strong influence  in the state as well as nationally, and has proven that better care can come at a lower cost.

Read full article here.