Accountable Care Organizations

Declining reimbursement and an increasing demand for transparency are among the factors driving the need for hospitals to consider more efficient ways for controlling costs and improving overall quality. In addition, different elements of healthcare reform that will be phased in over the next few years will almost certainly penalize providers who are unable to deliver efficient care.

The Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model is one approach that is being championed by healthcare leaders. The model focuses on the clinical integration of a network of providers, with incentives for providing care with a focus on quality while reducing overall utilization. This type of coordinated care requires a number of core competencies that must be addressed in order for the ACO to be successful. These include:

• Developing Physician Leadership
• Changing Participating Physician Behavior
• Development of Processes for Integrating the Continuum of Care
• Implementing Information Technology Systems to Measure and Report on Quality and Cost
• Developing a Compensation Model to Give Physicians Incentive to Participate
• Marketing the Concept to Payers and Patients to Build Volume and Drive Support

Healthcare Strategy Group is a leader in hospital/physician integration and has the tools to help you work with your physicians to manage cost and quality more efficiently in the development of an ACO. For more information on ACOs, please contact David Miller, Partner, (502) 814-1188 and dmiller@healthcarestrategygroup.com or contact us directly through our website.