Value-based payment arrangements are an important tool that New York’s Medicaid program is using to improve health outcomes for its beneficiaries. But measuring value in terms of care for adults is not the same as measuring the value of care for children. A different yardstick is necessary.

Since early 2016, United Hospital Fund has been encouraging the development of a new child-specific component of New York’s Medicaid value-based payment efforts. We’ve produced several publications describing value-based payment models for Medicaid child health services. And we guided a State workgroup charged with designing a new value-based payment model for children in Medicaid, which led to the adoption of new quality measures and consideration of a new pediatric model.

We’re continuing to work with the State on how best to implement the workgroup’s recommendations—and, through a partnership with ChangeLab Solutions, we are sharing our experience in designing value-based payment models for children with other states.

 
"The emphasis in value-based payment on tying quality performance to payment is an opportunity to deliver higher-quality, evidence-based care to young people. Designed well, value-based payment could be an opportunity to intervene early and prevent many child health–especially behavioral disorders–from emerging."
Chad Shearer
Vice President, Policy
The Children's Health Initiative Team
Suzanne C. Brundage
Lee Partridge
Chad Shearer