An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a group of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers that voluntarily unite to coordinate high-quality patient care.
Following the coordinate care model allows ACOs to provide patients with cost-effective and timely care, eliminating duplication of services and potential errors. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been administering ACO programs since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. While “Medicare ACOs” are common examples of Accountable Care Organizations, any group of healthcare providers can elect to form an ACO.
How Accountable Care Organizations Operate
The physicians and providers in Accountable Care Organizations work together to improve the quality of patient care while lowering costs. The cost savings come from a lack of duplication of services, and increased communication between the providers. Most ACOs follow a patient-centric, accountable care model, ensuring that the right care is delivered at just the right time.
Electronic health records (EHR) play a large part in making ACOs work. Since EHRs and other healthcare IT systems facilitate the exchange of patient data across a network of providers, duplication of services can be eliminated within an ACO. With an increased access to patient data, providers coordinate better and deliver improved continuity of care.
Medicare ACOs
Medicare administers several types of ACO programs. The most common is the Medicare Shared Savings Program, which provides financial incentives to ACOs to deliver high-quality care with cost savings.
Other programs include the ACO Investment Model, which tests pre-payment models for cost savings; and the Next Generation ACO Model, which allows providers to assume more financial risk than other Medicare ACO programs.
How TempDev Can Help With Accountable Care Organizations
TempDev’s team of NextGen consultants, developers, and trainers can help you implement, switch, or even upgrade your current EHR system. From dashboards, templates, and reports to revenue cycle consulting, automation, and workflow redesign, TempDev offers the tools you need to make the most of your NextGen EHR system.
Our team is here to help you design, organize, and implement the whole system, with top tips and guidance based on industry best practices.
Contact us here or call us at 888.TEMP.DEV to get the help you need working with the electronic health record systems and Accountable Care Organizations.
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