Practices in Bundled Payment Program Credit Medical Home Structure for Success

In July, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) reported that an innovative program using bundled payment for cancer care resulted in an impressive 34% reduction in medical costs when compared with costs for a control group. Moreover, the study found that patient outcomes were the same in both groups. 

The study yielded important lessons to oncologists about delivering care under bundled payment. Leaders at 2 clinics in the study, Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD, a senior partner and medical director at the West Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee, and Barry Russo, CEO of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Fort Worth, Texas, said they learned that their success with bundled payment would not have been possible without also delivering care in a patient-centered medical home.

“We would have had trouble delivering care in this way if we were not organized as a patient-centered medical home,” said Schwartzberg. His practice has 33 physicians in 9 offices and was recently designated a Patient-Centered Specialty Practice by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
- See more at: http://www.onclive.com/publications/oncology-business-news/2014/October-2014/Practices-in-Bundled-Payment-Program-Credit-Medical-Home-Structure-for-Success#sthash.kMdFjzk2.dpuf