Four out of Five U.S. Healthcare Execs Not Prepared for Move to Shared-Risk Payment, According to New Research From HealthLeaders Media

DANVERS, MA--(Marketwire - Dec 13, 2012) - More than 80 percent of U.S. healthcare executives acknowledge they are not prepared to make the leap from fee-based payment to shared-risk payment, according to exclusive research released today by HealthLeaders Media.

 The new survey, "Regulatory Strategies: From Medicare to Meaningful Use," found that 36 percent of healthcare leaders are "not prepared at all" for the move to shared-risk payment mechanism that will be central to the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly referred to as ObamaCare, and less than half (48 percent) are even "somewhat prepared" for the transition. Perhaps just as startling, only 17 percent say they are fully prepared. 

The new research was based on a survey of the HealthLeaders Media Council, a qualified community of more than 5,200 healthcare leaders. The comprehensive industry Intelligence Report is available for free download now: http://hlm.tc/123EXO4.

 "The PPACA is challenging healthcare organizations to shift their business models from patient volume to patient value in the coming months and years -- all while continuing to support existing mandates such as Medicare," said Edward Prewitt, editorial director at HealthLeaders Media. "Our report uncovered the various strategies that healthcare executives are deploying to address these regulatory challenges."

 Among the responses explored in the report:

• A significant majority of respondents expect their outpatient services (ambulatory, wellness, primary care and community/home health) to increase over the next three years;
  
  
• Most healthcare executives (57 percent) expect to enter clinical affiliations or partnerships over the next three years in response to the PPACA, reflecting the growing importance of care coordination;
  
  
• Over half of respondents indicate that they expect staff reductions as a result of the PPACA, with the cuts focusing on non-patient care areas (e.g., nonclinical personnel and administrative leadership); and
  
  
• As a result of the PPACA, 72 percent of healthcare leaders expect the Medicaid portion of their patient mix to increase.
  
  

This HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Report provides insights into the challenges healthcare organizations face as they work to align their changing business models with new and existing regulatory requirements. In addition, two value-add versions of the report are available for purchase containing in-depth analysis and additional features.

The Premium version, which may be purchased at http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-11023.html, contains case studies from Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital (Somerset, KY), St. Luke's Health System (Boise, ID) and Singing River Health System (Gautier, MS). The Premium version also includes takeaways on each survey finding, lets buyers segment data according to their needs, and provides recommendations and discussion questions for healthcare leadership teams. The Buying Power version of this report, which is available for purchase at http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-10547.html, is designed for healthcare industry suppliers and includes detailed drill-down data on purchasing trends and projections to aid sales strategies.

HealthLeaders Media
 HealthLeaders Media, a division of HCPro, Inc., is a leading multi-platform media company dedicated to meeting the business information needs of healthcare executives and professionals. As an integrated media company, HealthLeaders Media includes HealthLeaders magazine, HealthLeadersMedia.com, the HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Unit, HealthLeaders Media Rounds events, HealthLeaders Media Breakthroughs reports, and California HealthFax. All these platforms may be found online at www.healthleadersmedia.com.