VALUE-BASED CARE HELPS SAFELY MANAGE CHRONIC PAIN
Alternative Payment Models Improve Medication Management And Reduce Opioid Use
Value-based care models reimburse hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare providers based, in part, on care quality and outcomes. An example is Illinois-based Advocate Health Care, now part of parent Advocate Health. The system uses value-based care strategies to strengthen and tailor plans for patients’ specific needs and preferences. This can be particularly important for patients at risk of addiction to pain medications.
*Joann's story:
Joann lives with chronic pain. She was taking high doses of opioids prescribed by her previous doctor, but then started seeing a new primary care physician through Advocate Health Care. She was worried about the prospect of addiction, but she continued taking the opioids because she also was afraid of constant pain.
Joann’s new primary care physician listened to her concerns and connected her to Advocate’s ‘Facilitated Opioid Wean Team’—a specialized group of physicians and clinical pharmacists that help patients safely reduce opioid use while keeping pain in control. The team identified medication options and worked with Joann to develop a personalized pain management plan. This wrap-around, personalized approach was made possible through funding from Advocate’s participation in value-based models.
With the team’s support, Joann eventually switched to non-opioid pain medications. Since making the switch, she feels better and is grateful to Advocate for helping her live pain-free on her terms.
By focusing on outcomes, value-based care models allow health systems such as Advocate Health Care to better manage chronic conditions, including finding safer alternatives to potentially addictive medications like opioids. Without continued support for value-based models, patients like Joann might not get the care they need.
This patient story has been de-identified to protect patient privacy consistent with HIPAA – no real patient names are referenced, while the experience described reflects actual events.