The Center for Health Value Innovation launches new book on value-based designs for the healthcare system

Oct 3 2009

Cutting through the clutter of health care reform discussions, leaders from The Center for Health Value Innovation (www.vbhealth.org), the nation’s leading information exchange for value-based design, gathered on Capitol Hill yesterday to celebrate the publication of Leveraging Health and emphasize the Center’s dedication to aligned incentives that improve health and economic security for Americans in every community.

Authored by three recognized experts in value-based design -- Cyndy Nayer, president and CEO of the Center, Jack Mahoney, M.D., chief medical officer of the Center, and Jan Berger, M.D., strategic advisor -- Leveraging Health is available for purchase at: www.amazon.com and www.vbhealth.org.

Speaking before an invitation-only event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Nayer told attendees, “Value-based design is not only about consumer engagement, but it’s also about employer engagement. For too long, employers have been focused on controlling cost, but that’s not how you build a healthier workforce. Without an engaged plan sponsor you can’t expect an engaged consumer – it goes hand in hand.”

Nayer added that by applying the value-based design strategies discussed in Leveraging Health, “We can build an America that’s the healthiest country in the world by 2015.”

As Dr. Mahoney explained, “This book was designed to show the business-based outcomes that could be achieved when the focus was on the patient and the incentives were aligned to produce improved health status. We showcase large corporations, municipalities, fully insured plans, and more. The emphasis is on prevention, productivity, health, and economic improvement. It's a recipe for the health-value chain that promotes better outcomes for the communities.”

Specifically, Leveraging Health dissects plan design and incentives for prevention, wellness, chronic care, and delivery services. The Center expects that the book will expand its scope of influence far beyond the 40 million covered lives that the Center currently represents.

Dr. Berger projected that widespread adoption of value-based designs will transform the healthcare system into being about health first.

“This approach will improve the cost trend, quality, and outcomes across the board,” she said. “We expect that Leveraging Health will galvanize this effort and show policy designers in Washington and across the country that all the stakeholders can create aligned incentives for better health and sustainable outcomes.”

http://www.vbhealth.org