Value-based metrics may penalize top hospitals

Hospitals recognized for high-quality cardiac care are more likely to be penalized under value-based programs than other hospitals, according to a new study in JAMA Cardiology. The findings indicate a lack of alignment between federal incentives and the prevailing medical consensus on appropriate cardiovascular care. The researchers surmised value-based programs may penalize hospitals for factors unrelated to the quality of cardiac care they provide. Many hospitals recognized by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology for their high-quality cardiac care were large urban teaching hospitals with a more complex patient mix. "As the shift to value-based care continues in the United States and as multiple bodies simultaneously assess hospital systems, we need to prioritize efforts to promote fair, equitable and standardized measurement of cardiovascular care quality," said Rishi K. Wadhera, MD, MPP, the study’s lead author. (HealthLeaders Media story, 2/20/20)