Family Practice of CentraState is now in its third year of Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+), which is a CMS Advanced Payment Model that aims to strengthen primary care through payment reform and care delivery transformation. This model provides additional financial resources and flexibility to help make investments, improve quality and access of care, and reduce unnecessary services for our patients.
In addition, we are provided actionable data feedback to help in our decision-making, access to learning modules, and connections to other CPC+ practices and users with whom we can discuss common ideas, and we are paired with a practice facilitator who ensures our ongoing success.
CPC+, as an APM, seeks to improve health care delivery by asking practices to focus on access and continuity, care management, comprehensiveness and coordination, patient and caregiver engagement, and population health. Payment for this type of model is addressed through a care management fee paid per beneficiary per month (based on risk adjustments), performance-based incentives payment (though we are not eligible for this since we are already reporting through our ACO), and fee for service (there are decreased fee-for-service payments as more money is shifted toward increased comprehensive care delivery).
By participating in this model of care, we have been able to transform our practice in ways not previously possible:
- We have provided robust education to our providers, staff, and patients about our goals and growing services.
- We created Patient Family Advisory Committees for each practice location. This has allowed us to meet with and learn from our patients to help improve care delivery and patient satisfaction.
- We implemented patient satisfaction surveys to help learn from their responses and also help market our practice.
- We created new branding and patient outreach through a redesigned website and Facebook page, and enhanced communication through the introduction of a new patient portal.
- We purchased a population health tool, Eagle Dream, which has helped us to better manage data (including the ability to review claims-based data from insurance companies), identify gaps in care, focus on high risk patients, and reduce costs by reducing hospitalizations (ER visit and re-hospitalizations), medication costs, and unnecessary testing.
- We have been able to reduce barriers of care – and thus, provide enhanced access – for our patients with behavioral health needs.
- We have been able to create several team-building events which have improved physician and staff morale, communication, and care delivery.
We look forward to our ongoing involvement in this exciting program. Please contact me if you have any questions about CPC+ or wish to get involved in similar types of programs.
– Rob Pedowitz, DO, FACOFP
Medical Director, Family Practice of CentraState
Chairman, Alternative Payment Models/Business of Medicine Committee
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
Past President, New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons