Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma Medical Director of Population Health Management Peter Aran, MD, spoke to AJMC about the need for payers to support small practices as they transition to value-based care.
Here's what you should know:
1. While big practices can dedicate a staff member to support the transition to value-based care, small practices do not have such a luxury.
2. Dr. Aran said the lack of human capital will be an issue concerning the oncology care model initiative as well as the primary care plus initiative.
3. Dr. Aran said as practices transition towards the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, payers have to step in and help them.
4. Dr. Aran said The Community Oncology Alliance and American Society of Clinical Oncology could step into that role.
He said, "They are a vocal force in communication [that] changes with their docs in practices, they convene them at national meetings once or twice a year, and then their monthly publications help educate them. So, they are a vital aspect to getting this done."