Value-based care and payment programs are getting popular across the U.S., with nearly all states implementing them. This has been revealed in a study published by Change Healthcare. This is a national study of state healthcare payment program and it examines the progress made in the last 18 months.

Researchers found that in the last five years the number of states and territories that implemented these programs has increased sevenfold. Totally, 48 states and territories, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have now implemented value-based care and payment programs.

The study reveals that of the value-based care initiatives implemented, half of them are multipayer in scope. While only four states have had little or no value-based payment activity.

Eight states are in the initial stages of developing value-based payment strategies. Six states have implemented such strategies for four years or longer. Thirty-four states are already two or more years into implementation.

According to the researchers the study also showed 22 states have accountable care organizations and ACO-like entities in place or are considering them. 16 states have set up or have plans for bundled-payment programs.

This study specially mentions New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont for their “breadth of initiatives, embrace of payment models that involve shared risk and willingness to test innovative strategies.”