You are invited to explore and discuss in the question, key elements of value-based purchasing such as:

• Contracting arrangements being utilized to spell out the responsibilities of employers as purchasers with selected insurance, managed care, and hospital and physician groups as suppliers.

• Information required to support the management of purchasing activities.

• Quality management metrics that are measured to drive continuous improvements in the process of healthcare purchasing and in the delivery of healthcare services.

• Incentives being used to encourage and reward desired practices by providers and consumers.

• Education initiatives being rolled out to help employees become better healthcare consumers.

Be sure and note where we are in terms of adopting Value-Based Purchasing initiatives for hospitals and then other providers such as physicians.