Industry expects to recoup investments in value-based models like ACOs

Healthcare leaders expect to recoup investments in technology, staff and facilities that support new models of care,including accountable care organizations, within four years, American College of Healthcare Executives listed population health as the 8th biggest concern, ahead of technology and personnel shortages, according to KPMG. "Healthcare providers are facing a seismic shift in the coming years, largely because government and commercial payers will increasingly decline to pay for avoidable hospital visits," Kuehn said. "Providers and other participants in the care delivery system need the real time data and analytic tools to not only manage and improve the quality of care provided, but also the ability to measure costs to operate efficiently."

"Our clients see benefits from population health management programs as a part of the solution to reduce avoidable medical costs and variability in care," said West Johnson, a KPMG advisory partner who heads provider transformation. "Preventive care is given a big priority in these programs, since they deliver improvements in efficient and effective care with a high degree of patient engagement."