Advancing our Population Health Journey

The United States health care landscape is undergoing a gradual, yet dramatic transformation driven by a multitude of factors, such as payer reform, advances in science and technology, and evolving consumer demands. Care delivery that has been historically provided in the acute setting is beginning to shift to the ambulatory setting. Value-based changes in reimbursement are responsible for the exponential growth of outpatient encounters; however, many health care systems continue to view inpatient care as a major economic driver. Despite this, the cost of health care in the United States continues to increase. In 2021, it accounted for 18.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with Medicare spending totaling just over $900 billion.

This gradual shift in care is apparent in the way health care organizations are making monetary and non-monetary investments. Hospitals are extending their reach into communities to invest in preventative and post-acute care to balance the shift in inpatient case acuity and the decrease in volume. This presents a conflict where systems must manage infrastructure, operations, and leadership as payment models advance toward value- and risk-based payment all while functioning in the present fee-for-service model where incentives compensate output.

Baptist Physician Partners (BPP) is Baptist Health’s vehicle for value-based care. As we advance our population health journey, we continue to focus on providing patient care at the right time and in the right place. We have made significant progress toward reducing unwarranted clinical variation, decreasing avoidable utilization, and enhancing clinical quality.

Since our inception in 2014, we have generated just over $125 million in total savings from our value-based agreements. We became an accountable care organization (ACO) through the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) in 2018 and by 2021, ranked in the top 4% for total savings for all participating ACOs.

BPP is shaping the future of health care in our community through integrated partnerships and physician-led initiatives. As we improve quality, safety, efficiency, and outcomes for patients, we are poised to advance our valuebased strategy with innovative programs and risk-bearing agreements to ultimately change health care for good.