From Research to Practice: Implementation of ACO-Based Palliative Care Programs in a Research Environment

Providing palliative care to patients in their homes is now seen as an essential part of the continuum of care for seriously ill patients and families. Despite the lack of Medicare reimbursement and other challenges, health systems, hospice and home care organizations, and health plans are developing community-based palliative care (CBPC) programs. Organizations engaged in CBPC recognize the opportunities brought about through new payment methodologies, the growing focus on delivering value-based care, interest from providers and consumers, legislative changes, and in advances in technology aimed at care coordination. This session describes one model in implementing CBPC from four perspectives: A large IPA with an ACO contract looking to build a palliative care solution, a community-based hospice with a fledgling supportive care program, a health plan looking to develop a network of CBPC services, and a PCORI-funded research team evaluating this partnership using a rigorous randomized control trial model. Faculty will outline their program design elements, summarize lessons learned and discuss key considerations for health plans, medical groups, and hospices interested in implementing CBPC payer-provider partnerships.