Reference-Based Inpatient and Outpatient Payment Reference-Based Inpatient and Outpatient Payment Analysis: Reducing Payment Variation as a Potential Cost-Savings Analysis: Reducing Payment Variation as a Potential Cost-Savings Mechanism

Contact: Jonathan Mathieu
Email: jmathieu@civhc.org

A new analysis using data from the Colorado All-Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) shows millions in potential savings for Coloradans with commercial health insurance by using Medicare and average commercial payments as a baseline. Reducing variation using similar reference-based pricing models has proven effective in other states and this study shows Colorado could benefit as well.