Population Health: Alternative Payment Models

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/alternative-payment-models

Introduction

**Course Review: Population Health: Alternative Payment Models on Coursera** Are you interested in the intersection of health care finance and improved patient outcomes? If so, the "Population Health: Alternative Payment Models" course on Coursera might just be what you need to deepen your understanding of how we can reshape health care delivery through innovative payment reforms. ### Overview The health care landscape is continuously evolving, yet many of the existing provider payment models often lead to suboptimal outcomes and excessive spending. Recognizing that doing nothing is not an option, this course focuses on Alternative Payment Models (APMs)—strategies designed to enhance the financial sustainability of health care systems while improving the value and efficacy of services delivered to patients. ### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Welcome to Alternative Payment Models** The introductory module sets the tone for a collaborative learning experience. You’ll find an engaging community of fellow learners, encouraging you to participate and exchange insights. You'll be oriented on the course structure, the type of materials you can expect, and how to make the most of discussions and assignments. 2. **Why do we need payment reforms?** In this module, you will delve into the necessity of payment reforms. The course provides theoretical underpinnings and empirical evidence showing that healthcare providers often change their practices in response to financial incentives. Exploring both desired and undesired responses to these changes prepares you for a nuanced understanding of APMs. 3. **What is an Alternative Payment Model?** Here, you'll identify and analyze various types of APMs such as pay-for-performance, shared savings models, bundled payment, and capitation. Each model comes with its unique set of incentives and accountability structures, and this module will equip you with the tools to critically evaluate their effectiveness. 4. **How to implement Alternative Payment Models?** This module arms you with a comprehensive roadmap for designing and implementing APMs. By breaking down the process into six clear steps, you will gain practical knowledge essential for actual implementation. This module is perfect for those looking to develop actionable skills in health care management. 5. **The role of behavioral economics within APMs** Understanding human behavior is crucial when implementing APMs. This module introduces concepts from behavioral economics, such as nudging, loss aversion, and hyperbolic discounting. This knowledge not only enhances your appreciation for the complexities of provider behavior but also empowers you to create more effective APMs. ### Course Benefits - **Expertise and Credibility**: The course is developed by leading professionals in the field, ensuring that you gain insights from credible voices who are deeply knowledgeable about health policy and economics. - **Engaged Learning Community**: The interactive platform allows for discussion with peers, fostering a collaborative learning environment where you can share insights and clarify doubts. - **Practical Applications**: Not only will you understand the theoretical aspects of APMs, but you will also acquire skills to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios, making it invaluable for health care professionals and policymakers. ### Recommendation "Population Health: Alternative Payment Models" is highly recommended for anyone involved in health care, whether you are a provider, policy maker, or academic. The course’s combination of theoretical frameworks and practical implementation strategies equips students with the skills needed to effect meaningful change in the health care system. Investing time in this course will add significant value to your professional development and could even benefit the organizations or communities you serve. With the current shift in focus towards value-based care, understanding APMs is essential for anyone looking to stay relevant in the rapidly changing health care landscape. Whether you are a novice or an experienced professional in health care, this course offers a compelling opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills in a critical area of health economics. Enroll today and be part of the change in our health care systems!

Syllabus

Welcome to Alternative Payment Models

Welcome to the course Alternative Payment models! You’re joining thousands of learners currently enrolled in the course. I'm excited to have you in class and look forward to your contributions to the learning community. To begin, I recommend taking a few minutes to explore the course site. Review the material we’ll cover each week, and preview the assignments you’ll need to complete to pass the course. Click Discussions to see forums where you can discuss the course material with fellow students taking the class. If you have questions about course content, please post them in the forums to get help from others in the course community. For technical problems with the Coursera platform, visit the Learner Help Center. Good luck as you get started, and I hope you enjoy the course!

Why do we need payment reforms? In this module you will learn why payment reforms are useful to increase value of health care services and what the conceptual considerations behind alternative payment models are in general. Moreover, we will back you up with some empirical evidence that providers do respond to changes in financial incentives; both in desired and undesired ways....

What is an Alternative Payment Model? In this module we take a closer look at the most prominent APMs; pay for performance, shared savings models, bundled payment and capitation. We will look at the incentives that are linked with each APM-type and the way by which they shift financial accountability.

How to design and implement an APM? In this module you will learn about the roadmap for designing and implementing APMs. You will take a more indepth dive in the six steps of the roadmap. You will gain essential knowledge for designing and implementing APMs yourself!

APMs aim to change provider behaviour. Understanding human behaviour is therefore essential. In this module, you will learn about the universal lessons of behavioural economics relevant for designing and implementing APMs, like loss aversion, hyperbolic discounting and nudging. Good luck with your final week!