ACOs Save Medicare $466M Last Year But Quality Improvements Are Mixed
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces that a third of the accountable care organizations will receive bonuses, which are awarded in part on performance and quality marks. ACOs care for about 7.7 million Medicare beneficiaries.
CNBC:
Obamacare Accountable Care Programs Had $466 Million In Medicare Savings Last Year
Groups of hospitals, doctors and other health providers that agree to coordinate patient care as part of an Obamacare program generated $466 million in savings to the federal Medicare program in 2015, officials said Thursday. The groups, known as accountable care organizations, provide care for a total of about 7.7 million beneficiaries of Medicare, the program that covers primarily senior citizens. (Mangan, 8/25)
Modern Healthcare:
Fewer Than A Third Of Medicare ACOs Received Bonuses Last Year
The mixed results for Medicare accountable care organizations continued last year with fewer than one-third of them qualifying for bonus payments, the CMS said Thursday. The news comes as the administration is preparing providers for the new Medicare reimbursement program known as MACRA, which is set to begin collecting data in January. It shifts away from fee-for-service payments and toward value-based payments, thus promoting the use of programs like ACOs. (Muchmore, 8/25)
Morning Consult:
CMS: ACOs Generating Savings, Improving Quality
Medicare accountable care organizations have saved more than $1.29 billion since 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday. All Medicare ACOs, which number more than 400 including both shared savings program participants and pioneer ACOs, saved a total of $466 million in 2015, the agency said. The administration has sought to enroll more providers in ACOs as part of its goal to tie more medical reimbursements to quality, rather than quantity. (McIntire, 8/25)
For past coverage, don't miss KHN's ABCs of ACOs: Accountable Care Organizations Explained
