Looking Ahead: Analytics for Tomorrow’s Healthcare Economy

While there’s still a lot of uncertainty in the healthcare atmosphere, tracking towards value-based care (VBC) will remain an unchanged goal, according to Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association who spoke at the 18th Annual Citi Not-for-Profit Health Care Investor Conference. Healthcare organizations that are cognizant of this journey to value are beginning to invest more in data analytics to help support them. In fact, by 2021 the healthcare analytics market is projected to reach $24.55 billion according to a Research and Markets report.

With the continued focus on value, it’s no surprise that at the recent HFMA ANI conference, many speakers on the agenda addressed just that, as well as highlighted the role data and analytics will play. In fact our very own customer, Wise Health System presented on their revenue cycle and compliance analytics partnership. Beyond the fruitful insights provided from the show, we’ve outlined three general themes that are resonating in the healthcare market:  

• The steps to value – At HFMA ANI topics ranged from finding the path to value to simply growing your value. The topics – like providers’ readiness for the transition– vary widely. According to a HealthLeaders Survey, providers are still in the very early stages of the transition. If they haven’t begun the transition already, the time to start is now. The journey may seem arduous, but with the help of analytics tools, providers can understand where they stand in the process and how best to prepare for the steps ahead.  
• Reimbursement under value – Providers will need to implement supporting payment programs. In a recent blog post, we outlined how providers feel unprepared for the implementation of programs like MACRA, citing time and complexity as the top concerns. Similarly, some providers may find themselves unaware of the other payment options available. For example, the often-forgotten MIPS-APM track helps physicians shift to VBC without taking on too much financial risk – but this track isn’t as well known, and thus not as frequently utilized. To succeed under value initiatives, providers ultimately need a good understanding of their clinical, financial and operational data. Revenue cycle data analytics helps providers understand these areas, all while minimizing their reimbursement risk.
• Approaching value holistically, not piece-meal – Take for example quality improvement programs. Hospitals implement these programs hoping to reduce their hospital readmission rates, and in turn save money. However, just implementing one quality program isn’t enough. A new study from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that quality improvement programs don’t necessarily translate into big financial savings. Providers need to see the entire picture of their organization to pinpoint where revenue improvement opportunities lay. Implementing analytics can help organizations figure out if they’re on track to overall financial value, or not.

Regardless of the changes and the in-flux state of healthcare now, tracking towards value-based care will remain a constant initiative. Providers must have a holistic view of their enterprise to figure out where they can mitigate risk and optimize value. To learn more about the analytics tools that can support you in your transition to value-based care, visit our solutions page here. If you are interested in learning about additional ways to amplify your analytics journey check out our latest white paper here.