Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Suzanne Richins

Abstract

The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) resulted in providers and health care organizations conforming to new payment models that connect reimbursement to patient outcomes. Primary care providers (PCPs) are tasked to provide new quality provisions as chronic disease management is a key focus to improve outcomes. The purpose of this study was to understand the transition to new payment models and determine whether care is improved. The conceptual framework is grounded in health care access models geared towards the improvement of quality outcomes including the chronic care model (CCM). The research questions were designed to understand providers' perspectives on new metrics to improve quality and the implications on practice workflows and patient outcomes. This phenomenological study consisted of interviews with 9 PCPs directly impacted by health care reform and the implementation of new quality metrics designed to improve patient outcomes. The study analyzed PCPs' perspectives on health care reform and the transition to new quality focused payment models and determined if quality is improved. Collection of data was designed to understand PCPs' challenges in alignment of their medical practices to newly defined provisions of quality expectations. Respondents reported concern with new payment models focused on quality outcomes and reported overall patient care had not improved as a result of alignment of quality initiatives to payment. The implications of positive social change will be an improved understanding of new models of payment intended to maximize reimbursement and address potential challenges with the implementation of quality metrics in order to effectively improve patient outcomes.

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