COPD P4P

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Discern, LLC

1501 Sulgrave Avenue, Suite 302

Baltimore, Maryland 21209

(410) 542-4470 phone

(410) 542-9990 fax

DISCERN DEVELOPS COPD PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROGRAM

Discern, a health care policy consulting company, recently unveiled a new pay-for-performance program designed to improve patient care and outcomes associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This multi-disciplinary project demonstrates Discern's unique ability to bring together the necessary technical skills, analysis, project management, and relationships to successfully design and implement value-based purchasing initiatives. Similar to other Discern projects, the goal of the COPD P4P program is to improve quality and outcomes for patients through the appropriate use of financial incentives.

Discern coordinated the COPD P4P project from idea development to purchaser engagement. Specific project tasks included strategic planning, a program blueprint, clinical research, measure specification development, financial analysis and modeling, a marketing plan, and an implementation toolkit. Development of the program was made possible with financial support from Boehringer Ingelheim.

The Discern team first conducted research on COPD care and existing quality measures that became the technical building blocks of the P4P program. The research was analyzed and translated into a set of P4P measures and a corresponding rewards structure that were published in the paper “COPD Pay-for-Performance White Paper and Technical Specifications“ (http://www.discernconsulting.com/copdp4p.pdf). Throughout this process, Discern tapped into its extensive network of industry leaders to gather valuable information and feedback. Working with Bridges to Excellence (another Discern client), Discern assembled a physician panel of pulmonologists to provide input, share best practices, and determine the most appropriate measures to reward physician performance. Discern also worked with PROMETHEUS Payment™ (another Discern client) to determine the savings that could result from improved COPD care.

When the design of the COPD P4P program was complete, Discern worked with BTE to secure the organization’s endorsement and integrate the COPD measure set into BTE’s existing pay-for-performance framework and rewards structure. BTE subsequently adopted the program, which is now called COPD Care Link, and is currently exploring pilot sites around the country for implementation.

Discern continues to offer technical support and help with implementation for the COPD P4P program. Please contact Guy D’Andrea at gdandrea@discernconsulting.com or 410-542-4470 to learn more about COPD P4P program opportunities or to become a pilot market site. (For more information about Bridges to Excellence's COPD Care Link, please visit: http://bridgestoexcellence.org/Content/ContentDisplay.aspx?ContentID=170)

Discern can help your organization develop and implement its own value-based purchasing programs and strategy. For more information about how we can help with your organization’s health care consulting needs, please visit www.discernconsulting.com.