HJAR Jan/Feb 2025

HEALTHCARE TRANSFORMATION 24 JAN / FEB 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS ROADMAP FOR 2030 The vision of regional healthcare trans- formation that began in Northwest Arkansas in 2018 must expand to grow subspecialty and trauma care, health science educa- tion, and post-graduate physician training in needed subspecialties. At the same time, a collaborative strategy for research and innovation must be in place to fuel con- tinued growth. All these initiatives must be rooted in policy changes focused on increasing healthcare reimbursement and accelerating the movement from fee-for- service payments to value-based care with employer buy-in. Successfully implement- ing the four strategies below between 2025- 2030 will require greater collaboration and collective effort, as no single institution can accomplish these priorities alone. Through the co-leadership of the Northwest Arkan- sas Council and Heartland Whole Health Institute, an implementation strategy with these goals will focus on the following areas: Healthcare Specialty Service Expansion By 2040, the goal is to attract more patients fromoutside the region than it loses through outmigration. This includes increasing research-based physicians and subspe- cialty fellowships to enhance quality scores and develop the area as a destination for high-quality healthcare. Hospital systems and medical schools will invest in centers of excellence, potentially partnering with national healthcare centers. An important outcome of expanding medical education and specialty care will be the development of a Level I trauma program in the region. Expanding the Healthcare Workforce By 2030, the region will haveAlice L. Walton School of Medicine and additional students at the University of Arkansas and UAMS Northwest, driving physician workforce development, biomedical research, and spe- cialized care. Growth in graduate medical education will be supported by funding for subspecialty programs. The goal is to have the size of the medical and health science programs match the median of peer mar- kets by 2040. Expanding a More Collaborative Research and Innovation Ecosystem Increase biomedical research funding, development, and commercialization in Northwest Arkansas to the median of peer markets by 2040. Reaching this goal will require facilities, infrastructure, and fac- ulty to raise the region’s biomedical research profile. Advancing Health Policy and Payment Reform Efforts in Support of Value- Based Care By 2030, with a single voice, the region will advocate for state and federal policy changes to raise provider reimbursement to the level of peer markets and neighbor- ing states. By 2040, the regional health- care ecosystem will be a nationally recog- nized value-based care model integrating a whole-person system to manage health- care costs while improving outcomes. Criti- cal to success will be coordination among company-sponsored health plans to reduce costs, improve quality, and increase access. Vision: Increasing Reimbursement Rates A key policy initiative is to advocate for increased reimbursement of state and federal rates for healthcare providers and facilities. Competitive reimbursement rates are vital for ensuring that healthcare pro- viders and facilities are adequately com- pensated for their services. These funding increases are essential for retaining health- care professionals and attracting top talent to the region. By pushing for higher reim- bursements at both state and federal lev- els, Northwest Arkansas can build a more sustainable healthcare workforce, improve patient outcomes, and reduce provider burnout. Working with the Council and Heartland Whole Health Institute, a coali- tion of healthcare providers, local hospi- tals, and specialty care practices should develop a unified advocacy message and campaigns aimed at legislators and pol- icy makers, emphasizing the urgent need to increase Medicaid and Medicare reim- bursement rates. This coordinated advocacy initiative must develop targeted campaigns directed at state legislators and federal represen- tatives, emphasizing the urgent need to increase Medicaid andMedicare reimburse- ment rates. By partnering with professional organizations such as state medical societ- ies, hospital and nursing associations, the Council and HeartlandWhole Health Insti- tute can amplify its message regarding the importance of competitive reimbursement rates. Public awareness campaigns can also educate communities about the direct ben- efits of increased reimbursement rates, such as improved healthcare access and better patient outcomes. Vision: Transitioning to Value-Based Care An equally critical step in transforming healthcare in Northwest Arkansas is tran- sitioning from a fee-for-service model to a value-based care system. This approach emphasizes patient outcomes and the quality of services rather than the vol- ume of procedures performed. To facili- tate this shift, Northwest Arkansas Council along with Heartland Whole Health Insti- tute should convene employers, payers, and providers, and facilitate the initiation of pilot programs and alternative payment models to support whole-person care deliv- ery. A regional coalition focused on these models can demonstrate the effectiveness of value-based care, and promote success- ful case studies and expand their reach to improve patient outcomes and support the financial sustainability of health systems. Engaging with private insurers and gov- ernment payers to create new payment structures that incentivize high- quality, cost-effective care will be critical. Legisla- tive advocacy should focus on state policies that support the adoption of value-based