Arkansas All-Payer Health Care Redesign Proposes Adding Four New ‘Episodes Of Care’

The Arkansas Health Care Payment Improvement Initiative recently released four new proposed episodes of care (EOC) to be included in the state’s all payer redesign that also includes Medicaid. The redesign launched on July 1, 2012; it reimburses lead provider organizations for their efficiency delivering the individual services included in an EOC. The four new episodes are appendectomy, hysterectomy, treatment of uncomplicated pediatric pneumonia, and treatment of urinary tract infections in hospital emergency rooms. Once approved by legislation, implementation will begin in 2017.

An EOC is a retrospective bundle of Arkansas Medicaid-covered health care services provided to treat . . .