The federal government again is touting the success of accountable care organizations under the Shared Savings Program.
Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported that the number of ACOs taking on extra risk for cost increases more than doubled — from 93 to 192 — between 2019 and 2020.
“This will translate to lower costs and higher value for Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers,” Administrator Seema Verma wrote in a Health Affairs blog post in January. “CMS greatly appreciates the hard work and creative thinking from healthcare providers on the front lines who are participating in the program and redesigning their care delivery around value instead of volume.”
But data also shows that a total of 517 ACOs are participating in the program in 2020 — which is down from a high of 561 in 2018 and 518 in 2019, according to the National Association of ACOs. The organization warned that low participation could undermine the program’s progress.
Various healthcare providers come together voluntarily to deliver coordinated high care to Medicare patients and to share any proceeds.
From the February 2020 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
