Policy interest in value-based health care focused on outcome measurement and financing strategies is growing among European countries. France has been a leader in these discussions and hosted a recent international conference, entitled Shifting to Value-Based Health Care: From Theory to Practice, that brought together health care experts and policymakers with the goal of improving the value and sustainability of health care delivery and financing. The conference was hosted by the University of Paris–Descartes Medical School and the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement. It was held on May 16, 2018 at the headquarters of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Paris, France.

HCP assistant professor Zirui Song, MD, PhD, chaired a session titled Funding for Value, and gave a talk on payment reform and policy levers to address health care spending. The session included David Lansky, chief executive officer of the Pacific Business Group on Health, and European leaders from the payer and industry community.

Other speakers at the conference included government, academic, and industry leaders from France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Those from the United States also included Veronique Roger of the Mayo Clinic and Michael Porter of Harvard Business School.

The audience included members of the French government, members of the National Authority for Health and National Health Insurance Fund for Employees, the French physician community, and representatives from other European nations.