Tailoring Complex Care Management for High-Need, High-Cost Patients
<p>Addressing the cost and quality challenges facing the U.S. health care system must begin with a focus on improving care for the sickest and most costly patients, say The Commonwealth Fund’s David Blumenthal, M.D., and Melinda Abrams in a new <em>JAMA </em>“Viewpoint” published online today.</p><p>Blumenthal, the Fund’s president, and Abrams, who heads the foundation’s efforts on health care delivery system reform, outline policy priorities for improving care for “high-need, high-cost” patients, a population that accounts for a disproportionately large share of U.S. health spending:</p>
<ul>
<li>Promoting value-based payment models and improving their design and implementation</li>
<li>Ensuring that patients can access essential nonmedical services such as housing and nutritional support</li>
<li>Assisting clinicians in adopting best practices</li>
<li>Prioritizing health information exchange</li>
<li>Supporting ongoing experimentation.</li>
</ul>
<p>The article is part of the National Academy of Medicine initiative <em>Vital Directions in Health and Health Care</em>, which aims to produce evidence-based health policy recommendations for the next president and administration.</p>