Health plans want to work with providers that can deliver a full-service continuum of care. Patients want to be served by systems that take a more holistic approach to their health. In both a fee-for-service world and a VBC world, those with the most integrated and effective network organizations will succeed.
Most health systems claim to provide a full continuum of care. However, our experience suggests that fewer than one in 10 actually offer the type of end-to-end, integrated network organization that is required to deliver on that claim. More often than not, provider care continuums are fragmented, narrow and delivered in silos.
As providers look to take on more upside risk in their pay-for-performance contracts, success will largely depend on the strength and value of their networks. Finding the right partners to work with takes time and advanced insight. Collaborating with them to develop the right systems, tools and metrics to create value in a VBC environment will require new capabilities and resources.
