In the last decade, gastroenterology practice has experienced exponential growth in innovation and new technology, both in the pharmaceutical and device sectors. New products have impacted the practice of gastroenterology, endoscopy and hepatology. Patients are aware and well informed on these innovations and specifically request them.

In this evolving landscape, and to keep our members abreast of the evolving technology and innovations, ACG leadership felt strongly that the College should develop a forum which allows members to gather the information related to these new ideas, innovations and technologies.

This impetus led to the creation of the new ACG Innovation & Technology Committee which has a multi-faceted mission. A few examples of the committee’s charge include generation of technology assessment reports, reviews and white papers related to new technology and innovation in Gastroenterology, collaboration with the ACG hands-on endoscopy workshops for training and education in new technology and liaising with our industry partners to address current gaps in the device/innovation realm.

As one of its first tasks, the Committee summarized the most recent technology-related papers presented at the ACG 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting to highlight their clinical significance.

On Tuesday, North Carolina's largest health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shied, announced new value-based alternative payment models (APMs) with most of the state's major hospitals, calling it the "largest move yet by a commercial insurer toward alternative payment models.”  According to reports, within 1 year, roughly half of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s 4 million customers will have a provider directly responsible for the cost and quality of their care. Within 5 years, every customer will be covered under a value-based contract. If doctors and hospitals can meet quality goals while providing care at a lower cost, they will be able to keep a portion of the savings.  A providers' risk varies by contract, but all will have at least 30% of payments at risk by the 3rd year, and some could bear responsibility for all payments by year 5. In exchange, the insurer will give providers more leeway by removing requirements such as pre-authorization.
 
This new arrangement with North Carolina health systems is said to be similar to the “Next Generation Accountable Care Organizations (ACO)" models in Medicare, which are among the CMS-approved APMs in MACRA.
 
Five of North Carolina's seven largest health care systems, representing about $4.5 billion in claims (according to reports), will participate in the arrangement.  Blue Cross is also partnering with Duke University Health System, UNC Health Care, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, and Wake Forest Baptist Health.
 
ACG will continue to monitor and work with commercial payers who may also be contemplating similar arrangements.  ACG is also here to help!  Check out some recent ACG Magazine articles on this topic below:

• Sign into your account here.
• Don’t have an account? Register here.
• Visit CMS’ 2018 Performance Year Data Submission FAQs.
• Need a refresher or crash course on MIPS and MACRA requirements for the 2018 performance year? ACG can help.