Recent data from the United States of Care suggests that patients respond more favorably to terms like “quality-focused care” than “value-based care.” Patient-centered aspects of value-based care, such as personalized treatment and active listening, resonate well. Although patients initially preferred value-based care by a 4:1 margin, concerns about reduced provider time and quality associations arose. Effective communication about the approach’s merits is crucial, highlighting preventive and personalized medicine benefits for patients needing non-standardized care.
According to recent information from the advocacy organisation United States of Care, discussing the idea of value-based care with patients may call for a more strategic approach. According to the statistics, phrases like “quality-focused treatment” seem to be more appealing to people, suggesting that the conversation between consumers and healthcare professionals may need to be reframed.
The adoption of value-based care has been growing within the US healthcare system. Recent data from the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network (HCP LAN) in November 2022 revealed that 59.5 percent of healthcare payments were linked to quality or value, with the remaining 40.5 percent being fee-for-service payments.
The latest findings from USofC focused on understanding how patients perceive the shift to value-based care and how providers can effectively communicate its principles. Through surveys of consumers, researchers found that most patients appreciate the concept of value-based care, but are hesitant to label it as such.
The study began by asking patients about their healthcare preferences and identifying common concerns and positive aspects. The issues raised aligned with the drawbacks of fee-for-service models, such as fragmented care, impersonal treatment, extended wait times, and inadequate care coordination. On the other hand, patients expressed a preference for receiving patient-centered care.
Survey responses highlighted patients’ desire for a more personalized healthcare experience, active listening from healthcare providers, and treatments addressing underlying health causes rather than mere symptom management – all of which are fundamental aspects of value-based care.
Interestingly, when presented with a choice between fee-for-service and value-based care models, respondents leaned toward the benefits of the latter. Additionally, over half (51 percent) stated that fee-for-service models were not very effective, while 14 percent considered them to be ineffective.
Overall, the majority of patient respondents expressed a strong preference for value-based care by a significant margin of 4 to 1. However, even after receiving a description of value-based care, some respondents harbored doubts.
Dr. Venice Haynes, Director of Research and Community Engagement at USofC, discussed these concerns during a webinar about the data. Some patients are worried that reducing patient volumes might lead to higher costs. Others feared that a shift from fee-for-service could result in providers overlooking complex issues in favor of more solvable problems. Additionally, there were apprehensions about increased wait times due to extended patient-provider interactions.
Furthermore, patients seemed to associate the term “value” with discounts or cost-cutting, which posed challenges to the perception of value-based care. While some participants noted that value-based care made them feel more valued by their providers, others thought the term implied lower-quality or cost-saving care.
Instead, patient respondents were more receptive to terms like “quality-focused care” or “patient-first care,” with approval ratings of 89 percent and 86 percent, respectively.
Yet, the issue extends beyond semantics, as highlighted by the researchers. Healthcare providers facing patients who are intrigued by value-based care but remain skeptical of its impact should initiate discussions about the necessity of such an approach. These payment models might be particularly advantageous for patients who require individualized treatment.
Providers should transparently explain the mechanics and benefits of value-based care, underscoring its emphasis on preventive medicine and personalized treatment tailored to each patient’s needs.
Although the frequency of patients encountering discussions about value-based care or encountering various payment models during clinic visits remains uncertain, the data indicates strong conceptual support for value-based care among patients.
