Value-based Spine Care

Jan Triebel

The concept of "value" in health care is rapidly spreading as physicians and health systems brace for the paradigm shift from "fee-for-volume" to "fee-for-value" reimbursement. What constitutes good value versus poor value in health care remains nebulous at this time. Various specialties across medicine and within orthopaedics are seeking to better demonstrate value delivered to patients, payers, and policy makers. A working knowledge of value and its determinants will be imperative for health professionals dealing with spinal care and spine surgeons to unify research and quality improvement efforts so as to demonstrate the value of services rendered within the specialty of spine care.