An article in the MedPage Today this week reported the vast majority of hospitals aren’t ready to participate in ACOs (read here). According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), an ACO is, “an organization of healthcare providers that agrees to be accountable for the quality, cost, and overall care of Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in the traditional fee-for-service program who are assigned to it.”

While most hospitals may not be ready to embrace an ACO, there are opportunities to learn more about them and provide feedback on how educational opportunities can be designed. A report published by the Commonwealth Fund published this week examines six shared-savings pilot initiatives and explores the differences in shared-savings approaches, the outcomes they achieve, how to improve them, and whether and how to diffuse them. Read the report here.

On Monday, August 27th from 11:00am – 1:00pm MT, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation will host an open door forum to solicit input on how educational opportunities for providers interested in participating in ACOs or other coordinated care initiatives could be designed. No prior registration is necessary. Call the number below 5 – 10 minutes before beginning the forum.
Phone Number: (866) 501-5502
Conference ID: 1602701