Value-Based Care for Chest Physicians

Value-based care aims to improve the health outcomes of patients, eliminate waste and unwarranted clinical variation, and reduce the total cost of care. Professional medical societies have put forward guidelines to raise awareness on unproven practice patterns (Choosing Wisely Campaign), and payers have sought to replace the traditional fee-for-service payment models with value-based contracts that share financial gains or losses based on achieving high-quality outcomes and lowering the cost of care. Regardless of whether their practices are engaged in value-based arrangements, chest physicians should seek understanding of these principles, participate in designing and implementing practical and impactful high-value initiatives in their practices, and have a national voice on the path forward.