Link: Health Affairs

Just a few days ago, David Muhlestein authored an article summarizing the recent changes and potential future for Accountable Care. There are 744 ACOs in 2015, covering an estimated total of 23.5 million covered ACO beneficiaries. In addition, the number of public and private payers who have entered the ACO market. New policies, proposed rules, and HHS announcments clearly indicate movement of the Medicare (and Medicaid) program from a demonstration-type project to a new reimbursement mechanism.

Specifically, the article discusses

• ACO Growth;
• Changes to the MSSP;
• The HHS Goal of of moving 50 percent of payments toward alternative models by 2018;
• Expansion of Medicaid ACOs; and
• Predicted ACO Growth.

The growth of the Shared Savings Program in the number of members, payers and HHS’s committment to its goals of high-quality care at lower costs has changed the landscape of healthcare and will likely continue to do so.