Beyond Fee-For-Service: Emerging Payment Models in Radiology

Many initiatives are underway to redesign health care delivery and payment systems to curb rising costs while maintaining, and ideally improving, the overall quality of care. Whether in the form of Accountable Care Organizations, Patient-Centered Medical Homes, or various other models for payment reductions coupled with shared-savings incentives, the common feature of these systems is an increased shift of risk—for both cost and quality—to providers. Although most early efforts have focused on integrated care delivery models, with primary care providers at the center serving as gatekeepers to manage service utilization, powerful opportunities exist for physician specialists as well. This Neiman Report highlights two of several emerging models being developed by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute designed to align provision and payment of specialty care with efforts to ensure a sustainable, high quality health care system.