Advancing Value-Based Care in Musculoskeletal Health with Dr. Jason Scalise

In a dramatic shift within healthcare, outpatient procedures that were once not considered for ambulatory surgery centers are now a standard part of practice, thanks to advances in technology and evolving patient expectations. Leaders in the field are convening at the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine Orthopedic and Pain Management Driven ASC Conference from June 11th to 13th in Chicago, expecting over 1,000 attendees and 275 expert speakers to discuss future directions in the sector.

Dr. Jason Scalise, Chief Value Officer for HOPCO, is a prominent figure in this evolving landscape. With two decades of experience as an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Scalise now focuses on overseeing HOPCO’s value-based care initiatives aimed at the musculoskeletal space. The organization prides itself on developing robust alternative payment models that prioritize patient care and clinical efficacy.

Recently, HOPCO launched expansion efforts into markets including Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia, with plans for Missouri and Colorado by 2027. These regions were chosen for their substantial populations and the potential for improved health outcomes by addressing the total cost of musculoskeletal care. Dr. Scalise emphasized the organization's approach to analyzing healthcare data to reveal areas for improvement, as they believe that a significant variance in care costs signifies opportunities for better adherence to best practices.

He noted that successful expansion requires not just identifying market potential but also operationalizing care strategies and forming clinically integrated networks to unify providers around shared goals. This collaborative model aims to create a seamless approach to managing patient care and outcome quality across various specialties and practitioners, including primary care physicians.

Despite the challenges of navigating a rapidly changing healthcare model, Dr. Scalise highlighted that HOPCO’s experience and established systems position it to tackle these issues effectively. Previous initiatives have shown positive results, with a past program managing to reduce the overall musculoskeletal care costs by over 20% for a population of 120,000 lives, demonstrating that comprehensive care solutions can yield tangible savings and improved patient outcomes.

As the healthcare landscape shifts towards value-based care, the future will require organizations to blend operational analytics with patient-centered practices, ensuring that healthcare providers are equipped with the necessary tools to excel in a changing environment. Dr. Scalise believes that the success of such initiatives hinges on the ability to provide timely data and support to physicians, empowering them to enhance care quality while also yielding economic benefits for all stakeholders involved.

In this episode, Jason Scalise, MD, Chief Value Officer at Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company, discusses expanding HOPCO’s value-based care platform, building physician-led networks, and improving outcomes across musculoskeletal care. He also shares how analytics, collaboration, and specialty-focused strategies can help bend the cost curve.