Relationships between health systems and physicians have undergone significant change in recent years as health care continues its rapid transformation into a value-based system focused more on quality, patient satisfaction and cost effectiveness. As organizations adapt to these new payment and care delivery models, physician compensation alignment strategies have expanded to include a broad continuum of independent and combined approaches from clinically integrated networks and joint ventures to professional service agreements and full employment.

As clinical alignment strategies proliferate, Trustees need to understand the rules and arrangements of physician compensation so health systems can better integrate and the risks of compliance be reduced.

This article, published in AHA’s Trustee magazine, offers guidance to trustees who are overseeing physician compensation arrangements so they can confront governance challenges, improve alignment and mitigate financial and reputational risk to their organizations.