Impact of Financial Models in Population Health Care: Nursing

This assignment explores the impact of financial models, specifically Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), on population health care and nursing practices. The student analyzes how ACOs influence the prevention and management of chronic diseases, highlighting the financial incentives and care coordination strategies employed. The assignment also examines key metrics essential for assessing progress in primary care, emphasizing the importance of incorporating patient and family perspectives, social needs, and home environments. References to relevant research and sources support the analysis, providing insights into the evolving landscape of healthcare payment models and their implications for patient care and outcomes. The paper contrasts the benefits of ACOs and patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) and discusses the importance of goal-directed care and accessibility in primary care settings.

Running head: POPULATION HEALTH CARE: NURSING 1
Population Health Care: Nursing
Name
Institution

POPULATION HEALTH CARE: NURSING 2
Population Health Care: Nursing
Question #1
Ideally, healthcare innovation is no doubt more than new techniques as well as
technologies in contemporary society. As the overall healthcare landscape continues to take
shape, one of the most critical areas of attention is the payment model in the United States
(Distler, 2017). Consequently, there are various payments or rather financial models that have
are created with the aim of managing healthcare costs across the United States. Some of the
available economic models include Accountable care organization (ACOs) and patient-centered
medical homes (PCMHs) (Berenson, 2016). In this light, the entire payment model has a
different impact on the process of prevention and management of chronic diseases.
Primarily, ACO has a significant impact on the process of managing the financial cost of
treating chronic diseases. For instance, providers benefit from various incentives that tend to
reduce the medical expenditure of patients (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).,
2018). Additionally, this model allows providers to benefit from the overall knowledge that they
tend to participate in healthcare actively. Care coordination is tipped as a critical aspect of
improving and managing chronic illness as it provides patients with a rather dedicated team of
who maintain their health, present a comprehensive and comprehensive plan that is aimed at
treating patients, as well as ongoing support that is created in between visits.
Question #2
It is no doubt that the field of primary care is in between a paradigm that tries to merge
the entire benefits of a particular population to that of personalized care. Consequently, certain
basic metrics are required in assessing the overall progress to incorporate patient as well as
family perspectives and preferences, social, and home needs. Some of the basic parameters

POPULATION HEALTH CARE: NURSING 3
required for this purposes include goal-directed care, basic care especially for chronic illness,
tenets for primary care such as accessibility, and prioritization including balance and focus (Kim,
Funk, Daniels, & Zaheer, 2018). In this light, patients overall progresses are in a position to be
tracked by the medical practitioners and determine if the administered medication are the right
one depending on the progress. This showcases the importance of the available metrics in
regards to patient as well as family perspectives and preferences, social, and home needs.

POPULATION HEALTH CARE: NURSING 4
References
Berenson, R. (2016). Do Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) help or hinder primary care
physicians’ ability to deliver high-quality care? Retrieved from
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/journal-article/2016/sep/do-
accountable-care-organizations-acos-help-or-hinder-primary
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (January 20, 2018). Medicare Shared Savings
Program Accountable Care Organization (ACO) 2018 Quality Measures Narrative
Specifications Document. Retrieved from
file:///C:/Users/karen/Desktop/DNP/10th_Semester/Population_Health/2018-reporting-
year-narrative-specifications.pdf.
Distler, F. (2017). Accountable Care Organizations. Crossing Borders–Innovation in the US
Health Care System, 69.
Kim, K. D., Funk, R., Daniels, B., & Zaheer, A. (2018). Are Networks Key to Solving America’s
Healthcare Crisis?, Examining the Performance of Medicare Accountable Care
Organizations (ACOs).