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Accenture, Loopback partner to offer insights into clinical performance, cost for new value-based models

The pop health-focused partnership will help health systems to see detailed claims data from CMS to better manage new payment models.

Mike Miliard, Editor, Healthcare IT News

Accenture is joining forces with Loopback Analytics, a developer of population health management tools, to help hospitals and practices looking to succeed with emerging value-based care models.

In particular, the companies are setting their sights on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' new Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced program. It will test a new iteration of bundled payments for 32 clinical episodes, according to CMS, with the goal to align incentives among participating providers, reduce cost and improve quality for Medicare patients.

The first participants in BPCI Advanced, which qualifies as an Advanced Alternative Payment Model under the Quality Payment Program, start on Oct. 1.

[Also: Analytics for population health: Governance comes first]

"BPCI-Advanced represents a rare opportunity for health systems to receive detailed claims data from CMS to help optimize post-acute networks and inform value-based care initiatives," said Neil Smiley, CEO of Loopback Analytics, in a statement. 

The hope is that analytics insight gained from Loopback's EpisodeInsights pop health platform, together with Accenture's consulting services, will help providers better assess the financial impact of bundled payment participation across those 32 clinical episodes.

With help from Accenture and Loopback, BPCI Advanced participants can compare local and national benchmarks for practice patterns, episode costs and clinical performance, officials said.

"In an increasingly competitive market, health systems face mounting pressure to improve services and outcomes while achieving cost efficiency across care settings," added Gerry Meklaus, managing director at Accenture. "Our collaboration aims to identify where providers can reduce clinical variation while achieving stronger performance in their value-based contracts."

The two companies aim to help health systems reduce clinical variation to drive cost efficiencies and more consistent outcomes. Accenture will use Loopback's platform to help clients analyze their clinical performance and offer recommendations for improvements. In addition, the companies said they can help build a flexible, real-time data sharing infrastructure to connect integrated networks, engaging with patients at risk of readmission, reducing length-of-stay deviations and helping prevent adverse events.

Twitter: @MikeMiliardHITN
Email the writer: mike.miliard@himssmedia.com