Brookings-Dartmouth Pilot Site Leaders Offer ACO Implementation Insights
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which authorized the establishment of the Medicare Shared Savings Program, providers around the country have been preparing to become accountable care organizations (ACOs) at an increasing rate. This issue of the ACO Learning Network newsletter highlights the Brookings-Dartmouth Pilot Sites that were launched to support select provider groups create ACOs with private payers and provides advice from Pilot Site leaders regarding the key factors that facilitate successful ACO implementation.
Health IT in an Era of Accountable Care
Linking investments in health IT infrastructure that can help drive effective chronic care with the implementation of alternative payment models is critical for achieving demonstrable improvements in cost and quality outcomes. This issue of the ACO Learning Network newsletter focuses on health IT in an era of accountable care by discussing how to: improve chronic care through the effective use of health IT; implement health IT within the context of accountable care; and ensure that health IT investments are sustainable. The newsletter spotlights an ACO Learning Network member, the Taconic Health Information Network and Community (THINC), use of health IT to bring together provider groups, health centers, and local hospital groups to sponsor ACOs and ACO-like reforms. CIGNA’s Dick Salmon also discusses the integral role of health IT in CIGNAs eight ACO pilots.
An Overview of the National ACO Summit and Learning Network Conference
The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings and the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Policy (Brookings-Dartmouth) hosted the Second National ACO Summit (ACO Summit) and the first ACO Learning Network members-only conference on June 27-29. These events came at a critical juncture, as the implementation of value-based payment and delivery system reforms are accelerating across the country and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is actively reviewing comments on their Proposed Rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Also, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) is now accepting applications for the ACO Pioneer Model.
Accountable Care and Consumer Engagement
The inaugural issue of the ACO Learning Network newsletter focuses on accountable care and consumer engagement; specifically, can ACOs fundamentally improve the patient experience? Featured articles include a recap of the Brookings-Dartmouth event featuring CMS Administrator Don Berwick, a spotlight on Monarch HealthCare's ACO consumer engagement strategy, and an interview with AARP's Nora Super on ACO challenges and opportunities.