The Changing Role of Ancillary Health Care Service Providers: An Evaluation of Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc.

Authors

Steven M. Thompson, University of Richmond
Stephen Varvel
Szilard Voros
Dawn Thiselton
Shahrzad Grami
Ralph M. Turner
John Barron

DOI

10.1089/pop.2013.0030

Abstract

In an effort to reduce cost and improve quality, health care payers have enacted a number of incentives to motivate providers to focus their efforts on achieving better clinical outcomes and reducing the prevalence and progression of disease. In response to these incentives, providers are entering into new arrangements such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes to redesign delivery processes and achieve quality and cost objectives. This article reports the results of a study designed to evaluate the impact on cost and quality of care resulting from services provided by Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., a clinical laboratory with a comprehensive care model. The results show that patients who utilized these laboratory services experienced lower total cost of care (23% reduction, P < 0.01) and improved lipid profiles during the follow-up period. Total cost reductions were related to cost reductions found in both inpatient and ambulatory care. These findings suggest that accountable care organizations, patient-centered medical homes, and other groups entering shared savings initiatives should consider the potential role ancillary service providers with comprehensive care models can play in the delivery of integrated care. (Population Health Management 2014; 17: 121-126)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2014

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2014 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. This article first appeared in Population Health Management 17, no. 2 (April 2014): 121-26. doi:10.1089/pop.2013.0030.

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Recommended Citation

Thompson, Steven, Stephen Varvel, Szilard Voros, Dawn Thiselton, Shahrzad Grami, Ralph M. Turner, and John Barron. "The Changing Role of Ancillary Health Care Service Providers: An Evaluation of Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc." Population Health Management 17, no. 2 (April 2014): 121-26. doi:10.1089/pop.2013.0030.