Report of the ACR's Economics Committee on Value-Based Payment Models.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Radiology Management

Background:

• Healthcare reform emphasizes value-based care over fee-for-service models.
• There is a need to define and measure value in diagnostic and interventional radiology services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate and define components of the imaging enterprise that deliver value to patients and referrers.
• To determine how these value components can be measured and quantified for sustainable payment solutions.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of radiology operations using the imaging value chain framework.
• Identification of discrete value-added activities within the radiology service delivery process.

Main Results:

• The imaging value chain encompasses activities such as scheduling, appropriateness, patient preparation, protocol design, operations, reporting, communication, and follow-up.
• Hospital citizenship and examination outcomes are also key value categories.

Conclusions:

• Quantifiable metrics of radiology value can support negotiations with providers and payers.
• Defining and measuring value is crucial for achieving sustainable payment models in radiology.