Apr 10
2015
WEDI Launches Bundled Payments Taskforce under its Payment Models Workgroup
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), the nation’s leading nonprofit authority on the use of health IT to create efficiencies in healthcare information exchange, announced its Payment Models Workgroup is forming a project team to advance its work in the specific area of Bundled Payments.
Beginning with the first meeting in mid-April, the Bundled Payments Taskforce will assess the attributes, information and technology needs and requirements of this model, and develop solutions, in the form of an industry action plan, to foster their adoption and implementation while increasing sustainability.
“As the healthcare industry continues to evolve payment from fee-for-service to fee-for-value, WEDI is taking the initiative to lead industry efforts to ensure that the new models are effectively leveraging technology to make the movement of payment-related data as efficient as possible,” said Devin Jopp, Ed.D, president and CEO of WEDI. “With the gaining momentum of the bundled payments, WEDI is convening leading healthcare organizations to help develop industry guidance on how to streamline the exchange of clinical and administrative data in these forms of payment models.”
The Payment Models Workgroup recently released an issue brief, “Understanding Bundled Payments,” as an introductory overview for all stakeholders to gain better insight into this model. The issue brief defines bundled payments and provides an understanding of the varying types of bundled payments.
Through the newly formed, Bundled Payments Taskforce, the first product of the group will be a white paper on “The State of Technology to Support Payment Bundles in 2015.” The white paper will include designated sections for commercial payers, government payers, administrative providers and affiliated providers. For each, the taskforce will describe the technology needed, why it is needed, as well as a list of illustrative, high-level use. This paper will also cover technology impacts on other providers, interoperability standards used and needed, and a call to action for the industry.
For more information on the Bundled Payments Taskforce, please contact Emily Smith at esmith@wedi.org. WEDI members interested in joining the taskforce can sign up to the Bundled Payments Listserv for further information.
About WEDI
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is the leading authority on the use of health IT to improve healthcare information exchange in order to enhance the quality of care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs of our nation’s healthcare system. WEDI was formed in 1991 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was designated in the 1996 HIPAA legislation as an advisor to HHS. WEDI’s membership includes a broad coalition of organizations, including: hospitals, providers, health plans, vendors, government agencies, consumers, not-for-profit organizations, and standards development organizations. To learn more, visit www.wedi.org and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.