Virtual Office Hours
Delivering Palliative Care in Rural and Safety-Net Organizations
Presented By
Allison Silvers, MBA
Allison Silvers has been with CAPC since 2016, working to integrate palliative care into population health and value-driven strategies. In this time, Ms. Silvers has educated payers and policymakers on both the value of palliative care and the key strategies that ensure access and quality, while also educating palliative care programs on opportunities under value-based payment. Since 2016, Ms. Silvers has:
- Created and led CAPC’s Payment Accelerator, providing a full-day workshop and a suite of 25 tools to assist programs in finding payment opportunities and operating efficiently under fixed payment models;
- Co-led the Serious Illness Quality Alignment Hub, convening experts across the public and private sectors to define high-impact, feasible requirements and incentives for access to high-quality palliative care;
- Created a toolkit to help health care purchasers improve the care of their seriously ill plan participants;
- Created and led three Learning Communities for health plans, accountable care organizations (ACOs), and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) programs, combining educational events and new tools that expedite the adoption of CAPC’s recommended strategies; and
- Actively participated in advocacy efforts of the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care (NCHPC) to improve Medicare payment and alternative payment models.
Prior to joining CAPC, Ms. Silvers served as the chief strategy officer for VillageCare, where she oversaw a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Care Innovation Award to improve treatment adherence for people living with HIV/AIDS, along with leading a Medicare Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BCPI) initiative for post-acute services. In previous roles at VillageCare, she secured Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Level III accreditation for a primary care center and directed community case management programs that aimed to reduce morbidity and disability among isolated seniors. She also helped launch two health insurance programs: a Medicaid managed long-term care plan and a start-up commercial plan offered on the New York State marketplace; and has served as the long-term care subject matter expert for the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century.
Ms. Silvers holds an MBA from Yale University, a BS in economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, as well as a Geriatric Scholar Certificate from the City University of New York.
Selected Publications:
- Silvers A, Fields T, Kariuki F, et al. Exploring best practices in serious illness care for Medicare Advantage and accountable care organizations. Better Care Playbook blog. https://bettercareplaybook.org/_blog/2020/25/exploring-best-practices-serious-illness-care-medicare-advantage-and-accountable-care. Published September 2, 2020.
- Morrison RS, Meier DE, Rogers M, et al. America’s Care of Serious Illness: A State-by-State Report Card on Access to Palliative Care in Our Nation’s Hospitals. New York, NY: Center to Advance Palliative Care and the National Palliative Care Research Center; 2019.
- Silvers A, Fields T, Kytonen A, Meier DE. Medicare Advantage flexibility: improving care for seriously ill beneficiaries. Health Affairs blog. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20180702.641853/full/. Published July 6, 2018.
- Silvers A, Rogers M. Minimizing readmission penalties with palliative care. HFMA website. https://www.hfma.org/topics/hfm/2018/march/59772.html Published March 1, 2018.
- Silvers A, Gualtieri-Reed T, Fields T. ACO/Health Plan Toolkit: Integrating Palliative Care into Population Management. January 2018.
- Silvers A, Meier DE. SNP Alliance Issue Brief: Serious Illness Strategies for Medicare Special Needs Plans. December 2017.
- Meier DE, Silvers A. Serious illness strategies for health plans and ACOs. CAPC website. https://www.capc.org/documents/214/. Published August 2017.
- Silvers A, Gualteri-Reed T, Krakauer RS, et al., Payment primer: what to know about payment for palliative care delivery. CAPC website. https://www.capc.org/documents/96/. Published February 2017.
Upcoming Events
From the Blog
Navigating Payment Models: What Palliative Care Teams Need to Know
A practical overview of health care payment models, covering key features, how to identify the model you're working under, and ways to optimize palliative care within each.
4 Ways You Can Take Action with CAPC’s New Serious Illness Scorecard
The landscape of care for people living with serious illness has changed. New Scorecard and state reports assess nationwide capabilities and support action among palliative care champions.
Palliative Care in the Safety Net: Advice on Ensuring Access, Quality, and Stability
Creative and practical strategies for operating palliative care programs in the health care safety net.
Courses
New
Overview of U.S. Health Care Payment and Policy
Course 1 of 6
Understand how Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers share responsibility for health care costs, and the financial impact on patients and families.
New
Medicare and Medicare Advantage: How they Work and the Impact on Care Delivery
Course 2 of 6
Examine what Medicare does and doesn't cover, while exploring the rise of Medicare Advantage and its impact on patients and providers.
New
Medicaid, Veterans Health, and Long-Term Services and Supports
Course 3 of 6
Learn how Medicaid and VA benefits support vulnerable patients and families needing palliative care, and who qualifies for these programs.
New
Fee-for-Service Payment and Quality Oversight
Course 4 of 6
Explore how fee-for-service payment works, its impact on quality, and strategies to optimize both revenue and performance under this model.
New
Value-Based Payment and Alternative Payment Models
Course 5 of 6
Learn how value-based payment models tie quality to cost, and explore strategies for balancing priorities when navigating both fee-for-service and value-based care.
New
The Role of Profit in U.S. Health Care
Course 6 of 6
Examine the rise of for-profit health care, why investors are drawn to the field, and the impact of profit incentives on care delivery.
Payment, billing, and fundraising tools for inpatient and community-based palliative care programs.
Includes 21 resources.
Training and clinical tools for oncology clinicians from all disciplines.
Includes 30 resources.
Resources for palliative care programs working with payers and other financial collaborators, including contracting resources.
Includes 14 resources.
Disruptor organizations can build skills and capabilities in palliative and geriatric care to achieve strong outcomes.
Includes 17 resources.
Explore recent federal palliative care initiatives, learn about opportunities for federal action, and access guidance on policy implementation.
Includes 25 resources.
Toolkit for building a business plan and budget, forming financial partnerships, and operating the program efficiently.
Includes 31 resources.
Tools to help health professionals improve health equity for all people living with serious illness.
Includes 50 resources.
Use this toolkit to evaluate models and design and operate a long-term care palliative care program.
Includes 33 resources.
Use this toolkit to select program measures that demonstrate value and support quality care delivery. Overcome common measurement obstacles and synthesize program data.
Includes 13 resources.
Toolkit for finding the right patients at the right time to address gaps in care.
Includes 31 resources.
Tools for business planning, developing a program budget, and billing for pediatric palliative care services.
Includes 14 resources.
A process and tools for stabilizing and strengthening palliative care programs during COVID-19.
Includes 6 resources.
Improving operations and training clinical staff to identify, stratify, and meet the needs of patients living with serious illness at the population level.
Includes 20 resources.
Use this toolkit to develop new programs and benefits for members with serious illness while driving improvements throughout the provider network.
Includes 41 resources.
Improving productivity and efficiency to ensure team health and operating within budget.
Includes 20 resources.
A curated collection of key articles covering palliative care needs, as well as specialty palliative care services and impact.
Includes 32 resources.
Resources for delivering high-quality palliative care in the context of significant resource constraints.
Includes 29 resources.
Tools for translating operational and service decisions into a realistic budget and business plan.
Includes 10 resources.
Use this toolkit to learn the issues and opportunities, explore recent state initiatives, and access guidance on implementation.
Includes 44 resources.
Tools for all aspects of palliative care telehealth delivery, from selecting the technology platform, to ensuring meaningful encounters, to billing appropriately.
Includes 22 resources.
Tools to develop financial partnerships including: making the case, contracting considerations, and how to use legal and financial advisers.
Includes 25 resources.
A coordinated effort to develop a national strategic plan to incentivize the delivery of high-quality care for people living with a serious illness.
Includes 11 resources.
Tools to help payers, policymakers, and providers understand best practices for delivering quality care during a serious illness, and to identify certifications that demonstrate adherence to third-party quality standards.
Includes 33 resources.
These tools can be used to make the case for palliative care investment with organization leaders, health plans, colleagues, and community partners.
Includes 22 resources.