In late October, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care, the largest health system in the state, and its affiliated Medicare accountable care organization (ACO), Advocate Physician Partners Accountable Care, Inc., realized $60.6 million worth of cost savings in 2016. Ranking second in savings of 432…
Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are provider-based networks which utilize data analytics and population health management strategies to increase efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. Originally established in 2012 as a Medicare payment model, the ACO is now also seen in private payer settings across the healthcare continuum. Full Article
For organizations that have not participated in programs like the Medicare Shared Savings Program, the longer they wait and do not build up experience, the harder it gets to be successful in the more advanced risk-based programs,” says Elizabeth Johnson, MD, MS, president and CEO of MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization. Full Article