Congestive Heart Failure Care Link
The Congestive Heart Failure Care Link (CHF CL) program is designed to enhance care delivery and management for patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). Physicians who demonstrate excellent performance can earn a fixed bonus per year for each patient whose employer or health plan participates in BTE. These rewards are funded from the savings achieved through lower health care costs, and the increased employee productivity that results from higher quality of CHF care.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a debilitating illness with close to 5 million Americans suffering with this affliction. Over 400,000 new cases are diagnosed each year contributing to annual treatment costs estimated at over $30 billion and growing. With increasing CHF related costs and disease burden expected there is clearly a need to encourage more effective management and treatment of this condition.
BTE is addressing this need by working with CHF experts to develop measures to assess and reward superior physician performance. To earn incentives through the CHF Care Link (CHF CL) program, physicians must meet benchmarks on measures as LV function assessment, appropriate ACE-I/ARB therapy and assessment of patient activity level. Those who do will improve the overall health and well-being of patients, while reducing the risk of potentially avoidable complications.
To view the Congestive Heart Failure Care Link (CHF CL) program measures click here.
Does obtaining recognition improve the quality of health care?
The program is designed with an understanding that patients may seek the care of various types of practitioners-primary care (PCPs), and cardiologists (CARDS)-for treatment and management of their congestive heart failure. Accordingly, the measures reflect that physicians should do the following:
Provide high-quality care from the outset of patient contact
Understand and consider previous treatment history to help avoid inappropriate treatment
What is the duration of recognition?
For CHF Care Link (CHF CL) recognitions achieved on or before December 31, 2009, remain in effect for 3 years from the date on which a PAO awards recognition. Beginning January 1, 2010, the CHF CL recognition duration will be shortened to 2 years from the date on which a PAO awards recognition.
How will the public know which physicians have obtained recognition?
All BTE rewards eligible and/or qualified physicians and/or practices that are recognized by a Performance Assessment Organization, such as Masspro and MNCM as providing a high quality of care in the BTE Congestive Heart Failure Care Link ( CHF CL) program are promoted on BTE’s list of CHF CL- recognized physicians on the HealthGrades Physician Quality Ratings website. To identify physicians in your area who demonstrate a high level of performance in providing care, go to one of these two directories
Please note that some of this information such as reward amounts could be specific to a region. For market specifics, go to your local BTE region page.