Value-Based Purchasing of Healthcare   

Presented by UCF Continuing Education and UCF College of Community Innovation and Education, School of Global Health Management and Informatics.

This course is tailored for benefits professionals aiming to enhance their expertise in crafting a comprehensive benefits strategy. Through value-based purchasing of health benefits for a defined population, participants will learn to optimize health outcomes, promote health equity, and manage costs effectively.

Originally developed in 2004 by a coalition of employer groups and academic partners, this course has been refined and offered over 20 times. Now, in collaboration with UCF Continuing Education and the UCF School of Global Health Management and Informatics, it is available as a virtual learning program. The course is taught by faculty from the Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value, HCTN, and the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health, all members of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.

The course features eight weekly modules, which students can complete asynchronously. Each module includes a recorded lecture with a PowerPoint presentation, supplemental videos, and readings. Students are also encouraged to engage in the course discussion board. Additionally, an optional weekly live Zoom chat will be held on a weekday evening for real-time interaction with faculty and peers.

Throughout the first seven weeks, students will develop a Customized Action Plan (CAP) to apply their newfound knowledge to their work environment. In the eighth week, students will share selections from their CAP for discussion and feedback from faculty and fellow students. 

Upon completion, students receive a digital certificate of completion, digital badge, and 4.0 CEUs for SHRM recertification.

Benefits to Students
Students who complete the course will be able to:

• Describe how the health care system operates today and why a value-based approach to employee health benefits purchasing is needed

• Use knowledge and skills acquired in the program to better negotiate and communicate with health plans and insurance carriers, providers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), benefit consultants, disease management companies, and other vendors

• Identify and use standardized tools for measuring and reporting the quality and performance of health plans and providers

• Monitor the impact of benefit purchasing decisions on costs, quality, and value of health benefits

• Access information resources, business coalitions and other regional and national organizations to support benefit purchasing goals

• Understand the implication of health policy on value-based purchasing

Who Should Enroll
The course is designed for working professionals who are responsible for benefits purchasing and/or administration in an employer or purchaser setting. Other Human Resources professionals and population health professionals in employer settings also will benefit from the course, as well as staff of purchaser coalitions. Other professionals who are interested in enrolling should seek instructor permission by contacting Neil Goldfarb, ngoldfarb@gpbch.org.

Instructors - Download BIOS
Neil Goldfarb, President and CEO, Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health
Karen van Caulil, President and CEO, Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value
Phil Belcher, CEO, HealthCare TN

Course Sessions