Bundled pricing represents a significant departure from the current fee-for-service model — a model that has been widely criticized as motivating providers to drive up utilization, rather than focusing on healthcare quality. By changing utilization incentives and shifting some financial risk from payers to providers, bundled payment presents an opportunity for providers and physicians to work together to drive better, more efficient care

In theory, the development of a bundled price is simple, but in reality, healthcare finance professionals seeking to prepare their organizations for bundled pricing must overcome several key hurdles. In their article, Bundled Pricing: Overcoming the First Hurdles, published in this month’s hfm Magazine, NAI Managing Partner Michael Abrams, M.A., and Research Analyst Simone Cummings, Ph.D. describe what these challenges will be, and the steps providers can take to manage them.