Health System Takes Part in Bundled Payments to Learn for the Future.

Recognizing that bundled payments were likely to be one way healthcare is reimbursed in the future, Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk, VA, began numerous bundled payment arrangements under the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative so they could gain experience for the future. An executive-level steering committee looked for opportunities for improvement and determined that the biggest gaps occur when patients transition from acute to post-acute care. The health system contracted with an outside firm to manage its bundled payment program and to provide telephonic follow-up and case-management during the post-acute period, and developed a systemwide steering committee to make sure the programs are in alignment with work flows, compliant with regulatory requirements, and to provide feedback on what is working and what isn't. Sentara started building relationships with post-acute providers four years ago by organizing the Sentra Hampton Roads Long-Term Council, which includes representatives from the hospital's integrated care management department and post-acute providers in the Hampton Roads area, including those not affiliated with Sentara.