There are numerous health-related challenges facing rural areas of the U.S., including geographic isolation, an aging population, and a shortage of providers and hospitals, especially as rural hospitals close at unprecedented rates.
Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs can lower Medicare spending in rural areas, suggests a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
ACOs connected by a single EHR were more successful at care coordination, though most also supplement their EHR platform with other tools and technology, according to a report from HHS' Office of Inspector General.
CMS announced a “new direction” for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) dubbed “Pathways to Success.”
Now in its third year, Numerof’s State of Population Health Management survey provides an in-depth, national look at the pace of change from fee-for-service. Conducted in collaboration with Dr. David Nash, Dean of the Jefferson College of Population Health, the study synthesizes survey responses from more than 400 executives and interviews with key decision makers across U.S. healthcare delivery
Health plans of all sizes are interested to learn where they stand in the movement toward alternative payment models (APMs) – that is, shared savings, shared risk, bundled payments, or population-based payments and how they compare to the market. Some health plans adopt APMs because of market conditions, others by factors such as data system limitations or provider readiness.
Health plans benefit from monitoring changes to Medicaid MCO contract requirements, including those related to alternative payment models (APMs) adoption. MCOs with APM experience may have a competitive advantage when bidding on state contracts; conversely, MCOs that lack the capacity to implement APMs may be at risk of losing Medicaid business.
As 2016 comes to a close, now is the time to look at what healthcare trends might bring us into 2017. Current healthcare trends can help healthcare organizations predict changes in the marketplace and isolate places of improvement. From ACOs to behavioral health, here 3 important trends to watch as we enter 2017.
New research shows that accountable care organizations are partnering with community resources and social service agencies to improve population health management according to a new report from Performance Evaluation: What Is Working In Accountable Care Organizations? Highlights from the study are presented here. Private payers and the alternative payment models they’ve used among accountable care organizations have shown mixed results, but coordinating with social service agencies may bring improvements in population health management. Coordination with community centers will take the hospital-centered approach to healthcare in a significantly and positive direction, the report states.
The shift to accountable care and value based payment models is coming. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are just one of the value-based models making waves throughout the healthcare industry. Based on current growth trends it is predicted by 2020 approximately 70 million people will be covered by ACOs. Focusing on shared accountability and quality improvement, ACOs have become champions of the healthcare triple aim. Not to mention a major player in CMS’ plan to tie a large percentage of payments to value by 2017. As ACOs soar in popularity now is the time to weigh your options. Are you are thinking or making the transition to an ACO? What are the benefits