NAMCP Medical Directors Institute’s
“Value Based Care Council”
Executive Director: Michael A. Ford, RPh
Council’s Mission:
NAMCP understands the changing landscape with regard to the delivery of healthcare is moving from traditional fee for service to more of a focus on value based care and all of the omplexities therein. In that pharmaceuticals are the mainstay of the treatment plan or therapy for most medical conditions, the association made the decision to move forward with an initiative to work with Medical Directors and other stakeholders to improve medical outcomes not only through the more effective utilization of pharmaceuticals, but medical devices and diagnostics alike.
“We believe the work you’re doing is important and
are excited to continue collaborating.”
Steven Pray – Director, Channel Marketing
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, US Oncology
Council’s Goal:
To increase the competency and sophistication of payers and medical directors in their efforts to more effectively and efficiently extract and leverage the value of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostics.

Finding Solutions
The council works with Medical Directors to develop solutions, including, but not limited to standardized tools and resources to assist in the more effective extraction of value from their product spend so as to optimize medical outcomes

Quadruple AIM Goals
The council is dedicated to assisting Medical Directors with the achievement of the Quadruple AIM goals of improved outcomes, improved patient satisfaction, reduction of medical costs, and improving the work life of health care providers.

Council Focus
The focus of the council will be on product value, adherence and persistency, strategies and methodologies to effectively leverage value of product spend, and the critical components of value based contracts for products. In addition, the council will explore and discuss other value based care landscape issues and develop projects such as analytical studies and white papers that drive better informed policy, coverage and healthcare delivery.
Tools and Resources
OORCA – Organization for Objective Review and Clinical Assessment
In 2021, the medical leadership of the Value Based Care Council (VBCC) of the National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP) uncovered an unmet need and requested that an objective third party be created whereby the value propositions of products such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices could be assessed for both credibility and objectivity based on the evidence. The goal is to provide the marketplace with such an objective entity which would help bridge the trust chasm between manufacturers and payers / customers through the provision of such an assessment. This assessment is not an endorsement of a product, but affirmation as to the viability of the product claims made by a manufacturer based on the supporting evidence. This is distinctly different from other value assessment frameworks as this process does not assess the value of a product and has nothing to do with price. The VBCC agreed that function is up to each payer organization to determine the value of a product to their respective membership. The Organization for Objective Review and Clinical Assessment (OORCA) on the other hand, provides affirmation from an objective third party as to a product’s value proposition that will be helpful when payers evaluate a product.
Once created, OORCA was charged with conducting an initial assessment whereby the infrastructure, methodology, and processes would be pressure tested with the VBCC reviewing and providing input / feedback for improvement along the way. Over the last two years, the approach of OORCA was refined based upon this same feedback and now utilizes the Value Proposition Customer Engagement Short Form (as previously developed and approved by the VBCC and found on this website) for the submission of information for assessment. The assessment is predicated upon evidence and information submitted by the manufacturer with a methodology / process to review the four domains of efficacy claims, safety claims, economic claims, and other patient outcomes or product attribute claims with criteria established for these domains. Once completed, a final report is generated with regard to the final assessment. OORCA’s inaugural assessment was conducted for iRhythm as to the value proposition of the Zio device with the full assessment report found below.
Please click here to view the full report:
Value Based Contracting for Products Webinar
The VBCC continues to support the mission of NAMCP to transform knowledge into improved outcomes by providing education and resources to medical directors from purchasers, plans, and provider systems. To that end, please avail yourself of this one hour CME accredited webinar entitled “Value Based Contracting for Products, The Future is Now, What Medical Directors Need to Know”.
In this webinar, you will hear about the historical perspective of benefit management strategies for products, the status of these strategies today, and then a look at strategies of the future inclusive of value based contracting and how to create that same future.
Please join Dr. Terry McInnis MD, MPH and Michael Ford, RPh, both who have experience in the Payer, PBM, Employer, and Pharma spaces when it comes to benefit management strategies. They provide an introspective and insightful overview as to why and how healthcare needs to embrace value based contracting for products in order to truly optimize care for the patient while reducing overall costs. These are paramount in obtaining the quadruple aim.
https://namcp.org/seemedia/vbc_McInnisFord_2023/
Value Based Contracting Survey
NAMCP was selected to co-present at AMCP’s 2023 annual meeting in San Antonio on March 23rd. Michael A. Ford, RPh, the Executive Director of NAMCP’s Value Based Care Council (VBCC), along with Jane F. Barlow, MD / MPH / MBA, the EVP and Chief Clinical Officer of Real Endpoints presented the results of the recent 2022 value based contracting survey as published in the Journal of Managed Care Medicine in January of this year entitled “Major Trends in Innovative Contracting: A Survey of Payers and Industry”. This survey was a collaborative effort between NAMCP and Real Endpoints.
There is a lot of discussion and negotiation regarding value based contracts / agreements between payers and drug, device, or other industry manufacturers, however – many of these don’t result in implementation and this survey was focused as to the challenges, barriers, and opportunities therein, from the perspectives of both payer and industry.
The good news is the survey shows there is significant alignment upon which to build. Payers and industry agree that standards for VBCs are important and that better data measurement tools are needed. Also cited were needs from both payers and industry for education as well as opportunities to build internal commitment towards these types of contracts.
We are optimistic that change is coming! While third parties with the needed data and IT expertise are showing up in the marketplace, the VBCC of NAMCP continues its commitment to provide education regarding VBCs to both payers and industry in support of the overarching mission of NAMCP.
You can read the full report here and / or watch the webinar, as well as continue to monitor this website for additional education, tools, and resources to help accelerate the uptake of these innovative contracting opportunities.
Product Value Proposition Customer Engagement Short Form (Click Here)
In response to a agreed upon unmet need in the marketplace, the Value Based Care Council developed a short form in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency with which product value propositions can be shared between industry and the medical leadership of various payers throughout the country. This same short form provides a concise and consistent manner with which product value propositions can be shared while also providing the ability to align expectations prior to actually conducting conversations or having a meeting regarding a product or service.
This form is to be utilized by the customer as an unsolicited request to industry. It contains guidance for industry as it pertains to the customer, as well as the form allows for a response to be a maximum of 3 pages.
Short Form Demonstration Webinar (Click Here)
For more information, please contact NAMCP at 804-527-1905 or email wwilliams@namcp.org