Posted by: Lucienne Ide, MD, PhD

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the U.S., it is also highlighting many of the healthcare-related inequalities that underserved communities have faced for years.

As a result, the Biden administration is taking a few actions to improve healthcare equity. In January 2021, the administration signed an executive order focusing on advancing racial equity and supporting underserved communities, and outlined a plan to ensure equal access to vaccinations for marginalized groups. The Biden administration has also passed legislation to address the digital divide to help mitigate barriers between medically underserved patients and virtual care tools such as telemedicine and remote patient monitoring.

Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule demonstrates the administration’s continued commitment to expanding virtual care access. Calling for telehealth services leveraged during the public health emergency to stay in place through calendar year 2023 gives patients more flexibility in the way they access healthcare, and offers providers different ways to reach those who may have avoided care in the past.

Value-Based Care 2.0 Taking Form

In 2022 and beyond, we can expect an expansion of healthcare equality efforts as government agencies seek to improve access to basic healthcare and the management of chronic conditions through virtual care models. Additionally, the commitment to improving reimbursement options for virtual care is paving the way to more holistic, value-based care delivery models.

While the progression towards value-based care has been slow, the pandemic further exposed the need for a model of care that will support hybrid in-person and virtual care for patients and ensure adequate compensation for providers. As these care models become increasingly more popular, they will be key to the success of proactive, outcomes-focused care.

In light of this, we’ve also seen signs of a value-based care 2.0 movement, as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) are re-evaluating value-based models of care and considering more value-based care payment models mandatory over the coming years.

Actions like these suggest that value-based care will be more focused and sustainable in the long term, and virtual models of care will be an important part of the value-based care 2.0 model. These virtual models will also offer comprehensive, continuous care that will support greater equity while also prioritizing outcomes-focused care and payment parity for providers.

As we reflect on the past year and head into 2022, we can expect to see an expansion of these efforts from the Biden administration and to see great promise for further improving health equity and further sustaining value-based care.

Moving into 2022, Rimidi is continuing its focus on ensuring health equity for underserved populations through our clinical management platform and advocating for the need for permanent reimbursement expansion and an accelerated shift to true value-based care. Visit us at rimidi.com to learn more.