Integrated care by payment reform:The case of Dutch birth care

Introduction: In 2017, the Dutch Ministry of Health introduced bundled payments for birth care on a voluntary basis. This is designed to improve value by increased collaboration among midwives, gynecologists and other maternity care providers. Traditionally, these providers are reimbursed via a fee-for-service payment model. The new payment model aims to shift financial and clinical accountability to a new provider-led entity (a so called integrated birth care organization(ibco)) which functions as a general contractor. In that manner, bundled payments incentivize better coordination of care a... Mehr ...