Pursuing Health Equity Through Regulation and Reimbursement-W2058HealthEquityRecording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In the GHA-hosted webinar, "Pursuing Health Equity through Regulation and Reimbursement," speakers Kathy Reap and Marty Ross, both healthcare experts, discussed the importance and implications of health equity within healthcare regulations and reimbursement programs. They reviewed various regulatory changes and proposed measures aimed at reducing health disparities. Starting from pilot programs like the Accountable Health Communities Model and changes in the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program, the session highlighted CMS's ongoing efforts and strategies for more equitable healthcare.<br /><br />Key initiatives from CMS have involved the introduction of benchmark adjustments in alternative payment models, mandates for data collection, and other compliance expectations under various quality reporting programs. Notable among these is the ACO REACH program, which requires participants to submit a health equity plan and offers adjustments to benchmarks based on the demographic being served. Similarly, the Medicare Shared Savings Program proposes offering advanced investment payments to support ACOs in serving underserved populations.<br /><br />Additionally, CMS is pushing for the inclusion of social determinants of health into data collection and quality reporting measures. They are advocating the use of specific "Z codes" for documenting patients' social and economic characteristics. The proposed rules show CMS's evolving focus on integrating health equity throughout healthcare policy and operations, urging providers to adapt to these changes.<br /><br />The webinar concluded with a Q&A, encouraging participants to interact with speakers and explore how health equity considerations can be embedded in healthcare systems. Overall, the session emphasized an emerging trend where health equity becomes a central framework for healthcare regulation and reimbursement practices.

Keywords

health equity

regulation

reimbursement

CMS

Accountable Health Communities Model

Hospital Readmission Reduction Program

ACO REACH

Medicare Shared Savings Program

social determinants of health

Z codes