New statewide system emphasizes quality health care

— Arkansas is launching a new system in which health providers are rewarded for quality of care and not volume.

State Medicaid and private insurers gathered Thursday to announce the initiative.

The effort will strive to prevent complications after surgery and better treat specific conditions so that patients need fewer office visits for care.

One goal of the system is to enable physicians to have more time to see a greater number of patients as more people get health insurance or are covered under a state plan to expand Medicaid.

The plan will not reduce payments to physicians but will emphasize best practices and cost containment.

The new system will be rolled out over a period of several years.

Upcoming Events