Accountable Care Organizations
Healthcare Reform
Accountable Care Organizations
SMI’s Accountable Care Organization Resource Listing
Listed below are links to various industry articles, papers, and other resources related to accountable care organizations and related healthcare reform issues. This listing will be periodically updated. Please contact SMI to recommend additional resources not currently listed.
I. Aligning Physician Decision Making with Goals of Healthcare Care Organizations: Are There any Lessons From Law Firms? by Edward Correia
II. Afterword: The Final ACO Rule by Edward Correia
1. Title: Accountable Care Organization for PPO Patients
Source: Integrated Healthcare Association
Date: 2011
http://www.iha.org/ACOWhitePaper_PPO_final.pdf
Overview: This White Paper examines the challenges and opportunities facing contemporary efforts to adapt ACO principles and practices to the commercial PPO population in California. It builds on an earlier IHA White Paper that examined the record of medical groups and IPAs in coordinating care using ACO principles for the HMO population, including patients enrolled in commercial HMO, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care plans.
2. Title: The OIG Issues An OIG Rule On ACOs And The IRS Provides Additional Guidance For Tax-Exempt Organizations
Source: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Date: 10/20/2011
Overview: On October 20, 2011, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an Interim Final Rule (OIG Rule) providing fraud and abuse waivers for …
3. Title: Final ACO Rule Eases Requirements for Physicians, Hospitals
Source: Healthcare Financial Management News
Date: 10/20/2011
http://www.hfma.org/templates/blogpost.aspx?id=29372
Overview: The final rule on Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Oct. 30 introduces several modifications that the agency says will make it easier for physicians and ...
4. Title: Providers Cheering for the Revisions
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 10/21/2011
Overview: After delivering severe criticisms when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its proposed rules in the spring, professional medical groups--for the most part--now are applauding the final rule, an easier-to-swallow …
5. Title: Building ACOs and Outcome Based Contracting in the Commercial Market: Provider and Payor Perspectives
Source: THINC
Date: 10/28/2011
http://0101.nccdn.net/1_5/307/0d0/1b8/THINC-ACO-White-Paper-FINAL.pdf
Overview: THINC white paper addresses payor/provider ACO issues, finds middle ground
Value-based payment models and accountable care opportunities pose challenges for both plans and providers; Taconic Health Information Network and Community (THINC) white paper discusses these challenges and identifies issues providers should consider before they begin the contracting conversation.
6. Title: FTC/DOJ Final Policy on Accountable Care Organizations: Important Antitrust Issues Remain Uncertain for Healthcare Collaborations
Source: Morgan Lewis
Date: 10/31/2011
Overview: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) (together, the Agencies) issued their final "Statement of Antitrust Enforcement Policy Regarding Accountable Care Organizations Participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program" (Policy Statement) on October 20, on the same day that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued extensive regulations governing the formation, registration, and operation of accountable care organizations (ACOs).
7. Title: CMS’s Final Rule on Medicare Shared Saving Program Eases Some Regulations But Leaves Unanswered A Number Of Questions
Source: Proskauer Rose
Date: 10/31/2011
http://www.proskauer.com/news/detail.aspx?news=6972
Overview: The Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) final rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 2, 2011, approximately seven months after it was proposed. The final rule is the next major step by the Department of Health and …
8. Title: Dodging an ACO chilling effect; Regulators ease up on provider collusion warnings
Source: Modern Healthcare
Date: 10/31/2011
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20111031/MAGAZINE/310319954
Overview: Although the mammoth CMS final rule guiding Medicare accountable care organizations encourages close cooperation among healthcare providers, a companion set of rules from regulatory agencies reminds hospitals and doctors that too much ...
9. Title: IRS to review nonprofit hospitals in tax-exempt ACOs
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 11/1/2011
http://www.fiercehealthfinance.com/story/irs-review-nonprofit-hospitals-tax-exempt-acos/2011-11-01
Overview: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will review accountable care organization (ACO) arrangements on a case-by-case basis, partly aimed at ensuring that tax exemptions go to legitimate nonprofit hospitals participating the Medicare Shared …
10. Title: ACOs and Productivity Metrics in Medicine
Source: Renal & Urology News
Date: 11/1/2011
http://www.renalandurologynews.com/acos-and-productivity-metrics-in-medicine/article/216185/
Overview: Individuals, businesses and nations grapple with how to measure success. Productivity metrics represent a cornerstone of economic principles used to allocate resources. In baseball, batting average and slugging percentage predict a player's …
11. Title: Harnessing BIG DATA to Improve Healthcare Recognized as a Top Ten Innovation
Source: PR Newswire
Date: 11/1/2011
Overview: Clinic unveiled "Harnessing BIG DATA" as one of the 2012 Top Ten medical innovations at the Clinic's annual Medical Innovation Summit in October.
12. Title: Patients pose challenges in provider-payer ACOs
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 11/2/2011
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/patients-pose-challenges-provider-payer-acos/2011-11-02
Overview: Representing a national provider-payer trend, physician organizations and health plans are actively partnering in coordinating care--specifically in California--for cost-effective management, according to an Integrated Healthcare …
13. Title: ACO Waivers, EHR Subsidies and Stark/Anti-Kickback Exceptions
Source: HIMSS
Date: 11/2/2011
http://www.himss.org/ASP/ContentRedirector.asp?type=HIMSSNewsItem&ContentId=78881
Overview: Earlier this month, CMS and the Office of Inspector General for HHS, (the “OIG”) published new and improved waivers of healthcare fraud and abuse laws related to the formation and operation of Accountable Care Organizations (“ACOs”).
14. Title: Obsession With Meaningful Use Could Backfire
Source: InformationWeek
Date: 11/3/2011
http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/policy/231902161
Overview: Don't let your push to obtain the government's EHR financial incentives blind you to the next big hurdle: accountable care.
15. Title: Hospitals eager to replace RCM systems
Source: Healthcare IT News
Date: 11/3/2011
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/hospitals-eager-replace-rcm-systems
Overview: Nearly half of the providers KLAS interviewed for the recent study, "Seismic Shift in Revenue Cycle: Market Heading toward Sole-Source Landscape," told the research firm they plan to replace their existing revenue cycle … One in four say that accountable care organizations (ACOs), ICD-10, or other government initiatives were also influences …
16. Title: Physician Practice Groups: Industry shifts lead many doctors to align with hospital systems
Source: Business First of Louisville
Date: 11/4/2011
Overview: Larger physician groups maintain independence to retain greater say in patient care.
17. Title: Meaningful Use about better care, not just better technology
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 11/5/2011
Overview: About a quarter of hospitals are qualified to meet the Stage 1 Meaningful Use criteria, according to a recent CHIME survey. Many institutions are still finding it difficult to implement the necessary software and reengineer their operations …
18. Title: Doctor Groups Seem Less Wary of Medicare Changes
Source: New York Times: Prescriptions
Date: 11/7/2011
http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/doctor-groups-seem-less-wary-of-medicare-changes/
Overview: Influential groups like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, often cited by President Obama as cost-effective models of high quality medical care, are only now warming to the administration's "accountable care organization" concept for the ...
19. Title: Minnesota payer-provider ACO reports first year savings of $6 million
Source: Healthcare Finance News
Date: 11/7/2011
Overview: A one-year-old accountable care organization established by Allina Hospitals & Clinic and payer HealthPartners has reported that it reduced medical cost by $6 million in 2010 and reduced the medical cost trend to 3 …
20. Title: Report: Providers under pressure to moderate ACO costs of care
Source: Cardiovascular Business
Date: 11/7/2011
Overview: Accountable care organization (ACO) principles have captured the interest of health plans and providers that are under pressure to moderate the costs of care and the premiums they are charging employers and individuals, according to a ...
21. Title: ACOs focus on teamwork, quality care
Source: Nurse.Com
Date: 11/7/2011
http://news.nurse.com/article/20111107/MW02/311070033
Overview: Incentives for quality care and a team approach to treatment are two components of a healthcare reform provision that could have a significant impact on the nursing profession. …
22. Title: Federal panel begins work on Stage 3 meaningful use
Source: Healthcare IT News
Date: 11/10/2011
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/federal-panel-begins-work-stage-3-meaningful-use
Overview: Some members of the Health IT Policy Committee on Wednesday cautioned against making the measures required under Stage 3 meaningful use too burdensome. The panel also began to focus on medical specialties.
23. Title: Full Committee Hearing - Improving Quality, Lowering Costs: The Role of Health Care Delivery System Reform
Source: Senate.gov
Date: 11/10/2011
http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=68fdfd16-5056-9502-5d63-058b8c2b38ec
Overview: Video of full committee hearing. Chairman Harkin has been a has been a champion of prevention and primary care. Senator Mikulski has been a forceful advocate for quality improvement. She took the lead on the quality title of the Affordable Care Act, and so the HELP Committee has been engaged in this for a while as has the Finance Committee under the leadership of Chairman Baucus, his ready-to-launch program well before the health care bill helped position us into the payment reform mode that the health care bill so much reflects. …
24. Title: Government Policy Versus Marketplace Reality: Healthcare Executives Discuss Challenges, Solutions at MedeAnalytics-Sponsored Summit
Source: The Business Journals
Date: 11/10/2011
http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/2011/11/10/SF04991
Overview: With implementation of the Affordable Care Act in process, senior executives from payer and provider organizations around the country agreed today that less-fragmented, more-usable financial and clinical ...
25. Title: Interview: Why finalist Iowa Health System is vying to be a Pioneer ACO
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 11/11/2011
Overview: Some hospitals and other providers have been taking a "wait-and-see" approach when it comes to accountable care organizations (ACO), perhaps concerned about the capital expense, uncertain return on investment, and compliance issues. Not Des …
26. Title: Nurses bring coordinated care expertise to ACOs
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 11/12/2011
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/nurses-bring-coordinated-care-expertise-acos/2011-11-11
Overview: With coordinated care at the heart of accountable care organizations (ACO), nurses are applauding the Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) final rule released last month, anticipating more opportunity to improve care. Expanding the role of nurses will be beneficial to ACO success …
27. Title: ACOs and Their Impact on Pharma
Source: Pharmaceutical Commerce
Date: 11/13/2011
http://pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/index.php?pg=opinion&articleid=2603
Overview: Obamacare, officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law March 23, 2010. It’s now being challenged in the Supreme Court by the Department of Justice and 26 states on constitutional grounds, …
28. Title: Accountable Care Lives Or Dies On Performance Data
Source: Information Week Healthcare
Date: 11/14/2011
http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/clinical-systems/231902880
Overview: If your organization hopes to get a piece of the ACO pie, not only will your clinicians need to perform, but your IT team must crunch their performance numbers in ways that motivate them to improve.
29. Title: NCQA launches ACO accreditation
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 11/14/2011
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/ncqa-launches-aco-accreditation/2011-11-14
Overview: The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has released details of its accountable care organization (ACO) accreditation program that will launch Nov. 21.
30. Title: ACO service industry blooms
Source: Modern Healthcare
Date: 11/14/2011
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20111114/MAGAZINE/311149948
Overview: A rocky start to Medicare’s approach to accountable care has done little to deter companies eager to market ancillary services and products to hospitals and medical groups.
31. Title: The Once and Future Challenges of Implementing Health Reform
Source: The Commonwealth Fund
Date: 11/14/2011
Overview: We are rapidly approaching the halfway point between enactment and implementation of the most sweeping provisions of the Affordable Care Act. While many changes are already underway, the work ahead for the public and private sectors is both …
32. Title: Call Yourself an ACO? Prove It.
Source: Health Leaders
Date: 11/16/2011
http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/LED-273369/Call-Yourself-an-ACO-Prove-It.html
Overview: Healthcare providers that boast they're accountable care organizations may now have their services vetted by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which on Monday announced a three-tiered accreditation program to verify and score …
33. Title: Interview: Children's Hospital LA pledges accountable care for kids
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 11/16/2011
Overview: Most of the development and media attention regarding accountable care organizations (ACOs) has centered on an adult patient population. That's not necessarily surprising considering the Affordable Care Act's push for the creation of ACOs …
34. Title: Accountable Care Organizations: Update on Medicare Implementation
Source: Healthcare Economist
Date: 11/17/2011
Overview: Health Reform’s Accountable Care Act (ACA)mandates the creation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Dartmouth researcher Elliott Fisher stimulating much of the interest in ACOs by introducing the concept of an “extended hospital ...
35. Title: New NCQA Accreditation Program Identifies ACOs That Are Most Likely to Succeed
Source: Business Wire
Date: 11/18/2011
Overview: On November 21, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) will release the standards and guidelines that compose its new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Accreditation program.
36. Title: Q&A: ACOs not profitable for hospitals
Source: Healthcare Finance News
Date: 11/18/2011
http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/qa-acos-not-profitable-hospitals
Overview: Even with the major revisions to the final regulations for accountable care organizations (ACOs), uncertainty remains. The risks and technical challenges hospitals will face in transforming to the ACO model are daunting and require …
37. Title: New ACO model in Virginia is first Aetna plans for mid-Atlantic, U.S.
Source: Insurance & Financial Advisor News
Date: 11/21/2011
Overview: Aetna has launched Aetna Whole Health in western Va., one of its first new health benefit plan using the accountable care organization (ACO) model. Aetna and Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Va., have launched the new suite of new health benefit plans now available to Virginia employers with two to 100 eligible employees.
38. Title: Why Doctors Won't Like ACOs
Source: Information Week
Date: 11/21/2011
http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/CPOE/231903460
Overview: Accountable Care Organizations require hard data to support treatment decisions. IT's job is to build that evidence into your organization's systems.
39. Title: Aetna, Banner partner on ACO
Source: Healthcare IT News
Date: 11/21/2011
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/aetna-banner-partner-aco
Overview: Aetna and Banner Health Network will create an accountable care organization made up of Banner employed and affiliated physicians and hospitals in Arizona. The ACO will employ information technology and a team-based approach to …
40. Title: Accountable Care Organizations: The Private Sector Will Lead
Source: Mondaq Business Briefing
Date: 11/23/2011
Overview: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA") became law on March 23, 2010. Since then, one of the provisions generating the most discussion and interest among health care providers is the Shared Saving Program ("SSP"). ...
41. Title: ACO Investing 101: Buy Hospitals, Sell Device Makers, Hold The Rest
Source: Forbes
Date: 11/23/2011
Overview: As payment for medical services shifts from fee-for-service to more integrated, bundled charges, health providers will have to work together to provide services that not only heal the sick but also keep healthy people out of the system.
42. Title: Clinical Leadership Is Critical in Building a Successful ACO
Source: HIMSS
Date: 11/29/2011
http://www.himss.org/ASP/ContentRedirector.asp?type=HIMSSNewsItem&ContentId=78882
Overview: Acountable care has arrived. With the final rule submitted, approved and published, we now have a good idea of the qualifications and requirements for participating in shared savings. What the final rule does not provide, however, are the …
43. Title: Let's wake up about ACOs
Source: Not Running A Hospital (blog)
Date: 11/30/2011
http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/2011/11/lets-wake-up-about-acos.html
Overview: Comments by two folks recently should reawaken our concern about how to hold accountable care organizations accountable and whether creation of ACOs will lead to market dominance that will not bring value to patients.
44. Title: New report takes close look at ACOs
Source: Healthcare Finance
Date: 11/30/2011
http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/new-report-takes-close-look-acos
Overview: A white paper released Wednesday by Leavitt Partners’ Center for ACO Intelligence takes a close look at the current status of ACOs following healthcare reform.
45. Title: Roundtable: Private market ACOs
Source: Managed Healthcare Executive
Date: 12/1/2011
http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=750633
Overview: There is little doubt the advent of accountable care organizations (ACOs) and the Medicare Shared Savings program will reshape healthcare delivery for the next decade. However, the commercial market is positioned to drive the revolution of …
46. Title: Final ACO Rules a Mixed Bag for NPs & PAs
Source: Advance for NPs & PAs
Date: 12/1/2011
Overview: The final rules for initial implementation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) contain some positive as well as some disappointing news for NPs and PAs. Although the national organizations representing the two professions expressed …
47. Title: 5 things to note about the growth of ACOs
Source: Healthcare Finance News
Date: 12/1/2011
http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/5-things-note-about-growth-acos
Overview: A recent white paper from the Leavitt Partners’ Center for ACO Intelligence gave some interesting insight into the types, growth and location of ACOs. The report is the first of its kind, using data and analysis on the …
48. Title: Risk-adjustment process calls for deep dive into data; Record health status yearly to ensure balance
Source: Managed Healthcare Executive
Date: 12/1/2011
Overview: NOT ALL patients are created equal, which reinforces why risk adjustment is so critical to the solvency of Medicare Advantage plans. As the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act take effect, plans are evaluating best practices in risk adjustment for the upcoming health exchanges and accountable care organizations. …
49. Title: Shared Savings, Shared Risk: First-Year Potential Gains and Losses of ACOs
Source: Healthcare Financial Management News
Date: 12/1/2011
http://www.hfma.org/Templates/Print.aspx?id=29810
Overview: The term accountable care organization (ACO) is now ubiquitous in the healthcare landscape. Nearly every healthcare organization has investigated whether it should invest in becoming an ACO or participate in one. On Jan. 1, 2012, the first …
50. Title: Roundtable: Private market ACOs; How well can accountable care in the private market make the shift away from fee for service?
Source: Managed Healthcare Executive
Date: 12/1/2011
http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=750633
Overview: There is little doubt the advent of accountable care organizations (ACOs) and the Medicare Shared Savings program will reshape healthcare delivery for the next decade. However, the commercial market is positioned to drive the revolution of …
51. Title: Humana, Norton use information to keep employees healthier under ACO
Source: Business First
Date: 12/2/2011
Overview: About a year into their formal collaboration, Norton Healthcare Inc. and Humana Inc. are beginning to see benefits of their accountable care organization.
52. Title: Physicians uncertain about taking part in ACOs
Source: American Medical News
Date: 12/5/2011
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/12/05/bisb1205.htm
Overview: Many physicians are familiar with accountable care organizations as a concept, but some are either opting out of them or are unsure whether they will participate, according to a recent survey.
53. Title: Nursing Industry Leader Says New Health Care Model Offers Nurses Expanded Career Opportunities
Source: American Sentential University
Date: 12/5/2011
Overview: New guidelines for accountable care organizations (ACO) are expected to create expanded opportunities for savvy, career-minded nurses to thrive in the next wave of healthcare reform, according to one nursing industry leader, Dr. Catherine …
54. Title: Aetna collaboration puts IT to work toward ACO goals
Source: Healthcare IT News
Date: 12/06/2011
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/aetna-collaboration-puts-it-work-toward-aco-goals
Overview: Aetna on Tuesday announced results of a collaborative relationship with Connecticut-based primary care organization ProHealth Physicians, which since 2007 has made strides using information technology to improve quality of …
55. Title: State proposes Medicare-Medicaid integration, ACO partnerships
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 12/6/2011
Overview: The healthcare system in New York is looking to optimize care and reduce costs by partnering with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to integrate Medicaid and Medicare services and funding for dual-eligibles, according …
56. Title: Quality of Care; Lehigh Valley Health Network Selects Orion Health for Enterprise Health Information Exchange
Source: Orion Health
Date: 12/6/2011
Overview: Orion Health, the leader in health information exchange (HIE) and healthcare integration solutions, announced that Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has selected the Company's HIE solution for …
57. Title: Clinical Integration for Business Intelligence
Source: Healthcare Informatics
Date: 12/8/2011
http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/article/clinical-integration-business-intelligence
Overview: To clinically align and engage its medical staff, Covenant Health System created a clinical integration program to deliver improvements in quality and cost of care. Some key results of this program have been a reduced average length of stay …
58. Title: HealthEdge Research Shows Majority of Healthcare Payor Organizations Plan to Support New Healthcare Business Models in the Next Three Years
Source: HealthEdge
Date: 12/14/2011
http://www.healthedge.com/pages/news_events/press_releases/111214-2011_Market_Survey.htm
Overview: The results of the survey clearly showed that while many payor organizations intend to participate in new healthcare business models including value-based plans, pay-for-performance and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), most do not have the technology in place that will be required to realize this goal. The study also revealed …
59. Title: As doctors use more devices, potential for distraction grows
Source: NY Times
Date: 12/14/2011
Overview: Hospitals and doctors’ offices, hoping to curb medical error, have invested heavily to put computers, smartphones and other devices into the hands of medical staff for instant access to patient data, drug information and case studies. But …
60. Title: Final Rules for Accountable Care Organizations - Impact on Nursing Homes
Source: Blum Shapiro
Date: 12/15/2011
Overview: Incentives for quality care and a team approach to treatment are two components of a healthcare reform provision that could have a significant impact on the nursing profession.
61. Title: Steward Health Care to participate in new Medicare system
Source: Steward.org
Date: 12/18/2011
Overview: Steward Health Care LLC in Boston today announced it has been selected to participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model. …
62. Title: Majority of Hospitals, Health Systems, Insurers Undecided About Medicare ACO Participation, KPMG, EBG Led Poll Shows
Source: KPMG
Date:12/19/2011
Overview: Many Believe Their Organizations Lack Comprehensive Understanding of Changes and Financial Implications; Do Not See Real Results in Coordinated Care in the U.S. for 5-10 Years …
63. Title: St. Vincent's HealthCare Chooses Orion Health For Health Information Exchange
Source: Orion Health
Date: 12/19/2011
Overview: Preeminent Florida health system partners with Orion Health to drive integrated connectivity across software systems and facilities, and enable improved communications with community physicians
64. Title: Affordable Care Act helps 32 health systems improve care for patients, saving up to $1.1 billion
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/12/20111219a.html
Overview: Leading health care providers will be Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations
65. Title: Providers, payers still unsure about ACO participation
Source: Healthcare IT News
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/providers-payers-still-unsure-about-aco-participation
Overview: Majorities of senior executives at hospitals, health systems and insurers are on the fence about their organizations' participation in the Medicare ACO program, according to a poll conducted by KPMG, alongside law firm Epstein …
66. Title: Deadline today for $1B CMS Innovation Challenge
Source: Healthcare IT News
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/deadline-today-1b-cms-innovation-challenge
Overview: Letters of intent are due today from those interested in participating in the CMS Innovation Center's Health Care Innovation Challenge, which promises up to $1 billion for new ideas that improve care, shift incentives and help …
67. Title: Heritage Provider Network to Participate as Medicare Pioneer Accountable Care Organization
Source: Heritage Provider Network
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.heritageprovidernetwork.com/?p=hpn-today&article=28
Overview: Heritage Provider Network (HPN) today announced it has been selected to participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, a transformative new initiative sponsored by …
68. Title: Sharp HealthCare to Participate as Medicare Pioneer Accountable Care Organization
Source: PR Newswire
Date: 12/19/2011
Overview: Sharp HealthCare today announced it has been selected to participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model, a new initiative sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center.
69. Title: Brown & Toland Physicians to Participate as Medicare Pioneer Accountable Care Organization
Source: Brown & Toland
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.brownandtoland.com/visitors/Documents/PioneerACO12192011.pdf
Overview: Brown & Toland Physicians announced today it has been selected to participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, a transformative new initiative sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center. …
70. Title: DMC Selected as National "Pioneer" in Medicare's Innovative New "Accountable Care" Health Initiative
Source: Detroit Medical Center
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.dmc.org/news/?sid=1&nid=235
Overview: One of Only 32 Medical Organizations Chosen Nationwide, Detroit-Based Hospital Group Will Help Lead Trailblazing Effort to Greatly Improve Medical Care for Older Patients
71. Title: Montefiore's Bronx Accountable Healthcare Network to Participate as Medicare Pioneer Accountable Care Organization
Source: PR Newswire
Date: 12/19/2011
Overview: Montefiore Medical Center announced today that its Bronx Accountable Healthcare Network (BAHN), has been selected to participate as a Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO), a transformative new initiative sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center. …
72. Title: University of Michigan, IHA to Participate as Medicare Pioneer Accountable Care Organization
Source: PR Newswire
Date: 12/19/2011
Overview: The University of Michigan Health System will participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, in partnership with IHA Health Services Corporation, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based multi-specialty group practice. …
73. Title: Three MN healthcare providers chosen for new Medicare plan
Source: St. Paul Business Journals
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/12/19/allina-fairview-park-nicollet-chosen-hhs.html
Overview: Three Minnesota health care providers were among 32 chosen Monday to participate in a new program designed to lower the costs of Medicare.
74. Title: Presbyterian Healthcare tapped for program to improve Medicare
Source: New Mexico Business Daily
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2011/12/19/presbyterian-healthcare-tapped-for.html
Overview: The Albuquerque-based nonprofit health care system was chosen to participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization model by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Presbyterian said in a news release. It was one of 32 health care organizations chosen for the program, and will be the only Pioneer ACO in New Mexico. …
75. Title: North Texas Specialty Physicians, Texas Health Resources Selected by CMS to Participate in the Pioneer ACO Model
Source: Texas Health Resources
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.texashealth.org/body.cfm?id=1629&action=detail&ref=1257
Overview: North Texas Specialty Physicians (NTSP) and Texas Health Resources have been selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the Pioneer ACO Model. Texas Health and NTSP are among an elite group of health care organizations nationwide chosen to participate in this new ACO pilot program. …
76. Title: Seton, Austin Regional Clinic partnering in experiment
Source: Statesman.com
Date: 12/19/2011
Overview: About 11,000 Central Texas Medicare patients will soon receive letters asking if they want to be part of an experiment in health care that starts Jan. 1. …
77. Title: Six California Physician Groups Selected As Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations by Department of Health and Human Services
Source: Businesswire
Date: 12/19/2011
Overview: The California Association of Physician Groups (CAPG) announced today that US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) selected six of its member physician groups as part of its “pioneer” accountable care organizations initiative. …
78. Title: 5 Mass. groups join Medicare care experiment
Source: Boston.com
Date: 12/19/2011
Overview: Five health care organizations in Massachusetts will be part of a major new program meant to push hospitals and physicians to pay more attention to Medicare patients’ overall care, improving their health and lowering the cost of …
79. Title: Seton chosen for national Medicare pilot study
Source: Austin Business Journal
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2011/12/19/seton-chosen-for-national-medicare.html
Overview: … Seton Health Alliance will be responsible for detailed patient reporting and outcomes, including readmission rates, treatment in the most effective setting, provider satisfaction and patient satisfaction, Hartle said. If Seton’s ACO meets and exceeds quality standards, it will be eligible for payment from CMS …
80. Title: HHS names 32 ‘pioneers’ in key program to cut healthcare costs
Source: The Hill
Date: 12/19/2011
Overview: The Health and Human Services Department on Monday named 32 organizations that will take the lead in testing out the healthcare law’s biggest effort to cut costs and improve quality. …
81. Title: Baucus Praises Formation of New Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations - Senate Finance Committee News Release
Source: The United States Senate Committee on Finance
Date: 12/19/2011
http://finance.senate.gov/newsroom/chairman/release/?id=5e88529c-3a3e-415e-b048-e28ded23b972
Overview: …” These Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations will improve treatment and save money by making Medicare more nimble and responsive to our seniors’ needs. And these organizations will pave the way to …
82. Title: Franciscan to Roll Out Medicare Program
Source: Inside Indiana Business
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=51334
Overview: The Franciscan Alliance in Indianapolis says it's the first medical provider in the state to be selected for Medicare's Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model. The program offers federal incentives for providers that form organizations …
83. Title: Half of hospital execs unsure of ACO participation
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/half-hospital-execs-unsure-aco-participation/2011-12-19
Overview: Even though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates 50 to 270 ACOs will sign up, half of senior executives at hospitals and health systems are still unsure about whether to participate in the Medicare ACO program, …
84. Title: Report: ACO participation poses risks despite revised regulations
Source: CMIO
Date: 12/19/2011
http://www.cmio.net/index.php?option=com_articles&article=30914
Overview: Although the final regulations regarding the shared savings program (SSP) between Medicare and accountable care organizations (ACOs) addresses shortcomings in earlier proposed regulations that may have made ACO entry too difficult for …
85. Title: 'Pioneer ACOs' to encompass 860,000 Medicare patients
Source: Nurse.Com
Date: 12/19/2011
http://news.nurse.com/article/20111219/NATIONAL02/112190017
Overview: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday said 32 leading healthcare organizations will participate in Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations, a newly announced type of ACO. …
85. Title: We're never leaving: House to vote on a 'motion to reject Senate bill' and instruct conferees on SGR, payroll - Pelosi: We won't go to conference - Patients: The ACO x-factor
Source: Politico
Date: 12/20/2011
http://www.politico.com/politicopulse/1211/politicopulse647.html
Overview: THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW?— Or it won’t. After a very long Monday, House Republican leaders announced last night they would not hold an up-or-down vote on the Senate’s two-month payroll tax cut and SGR patch. Instead the House plans to …
86. Title: State to debut Medicare pay plan ; Partners, Steward doctors to be paid for total care, rather than piecemeal
Source: The Boston Globe
Date: 12/20/2011
Overview: Massachusetts is set once again to become a testing ground for a major federal effort to overhaul the health care industry. …
87. Title: Pioneer ACO Model Offers Participants More Flexibility
Source: Health Leaders Media
Date: 12/20/2011
Overview: The Department of Health & Human Services announced on Monday that 32 healthcare systems have been selected to participate as Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations. The initiative will encourage primary care doctors, specialists, …
88. Title: Hospitals That Serve The Poor Struggle With Readmissions
Source: NPR
Date: 12/20/2011
Overview: Hospitals across the country are trying to clamp down on frequent readmissions in anticipation of new penalties Medicare is readying. But it's a bigger problem at hospitals that treat lots of low-income patients.
89. Title: West Valley Physician Organization Partners with Banner Health in CMS selected Medicare Pioneer ACO
Source: SurgiStrategies – Solutions for Outpatient Healthcare
Date: 12/20/2011
http://www.surgistrategies.com/news/2011/12/west-valley-physician-organization-partners-with.aspx
Overview: West Valley Physician Organization Partners with Banner Health in CMS selected Medicare Pioneer ACO …
90. Title: An interview with health reform's best hope
Source: The Washington Post
Date: 12/20/2011
Overview: Within the health reform law, Accountable Care Organizations are meant to serve as a crucial tool to bring down health care costs by bringing American medicine past the fee-for-service model. The idea is to encourage health care providers …
91. Title: Healthcare initiative launched in Lakki
Source: Dawn Newspaper
Date: 12/20/2011
http://dawn.com/2011/12/22/healthcare-initiative-launched-in-lakki/
Overview: LAKKI MARWAT: The People’s Primary Healthcare Initiatives (PPHI) programme has been launched in the district with the objective to improve the performance of basic health facilities and provide the people with better healthcare …
92. Title: Bay Area groups take part in Medicare test program
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Date: 12/21/2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/20/BU4B1MEHS8.DTL
Overview: This is only a test, but it's an important one. …
93. Title: INTEGRIS Health Selects MedVentive as its Clinical Integration Partner
Source: PR Web
Date: 12/21/2011
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/12/prweb9057684.htm
Overview: Oklahoma’s largest health system to implement MedVentive platform to improve quality of care while lowering costs. … The MedVentive platform was well-conceived, and is unique in the industry with its practical, real-world approach and fundamental components such as disease registries and automated patient interventions. …
94. Title: Cigna expands accountable-care organization into N.J.
Source: NJ Biz
Date: 12/21/2011
Overview: Connecticut insurer Cigna announced Tuesday it is expanding its accountable-care organization into New Jersey by partnering with Partners in Care, of New Brunswick. …
95. Title: IOM Authors Disagree With HHS Decision On Essential Benefits
Source: Kaiser Health News
Date: 12/22/2011
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2011/December/22/health-reform-issues.aspx?p=1
Overview: Political Pro talks to researchers who helped develop the IOM recommendations for the federal government on what should be offered in health plans. At the same time, a number of media outlets look at news about the implementation of the …
96. Title: State Pilot Prompts Children's Hospital To Form ACO
Source: California Healthline
Date: 12/22/2011
Overview: The other organizations launching pilots are Children's Hospital of Orange County, L.A. Care Health Plan, Health Plan of San Mateo County and Alameda County Health Care. All five organizations will test care models such as ACOs, enhanced primary care case management and an existing Medi-Cal managed care organization system. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. …
97. Title: managing the physician revenue cycle
Source: Healthcare Financial Management (via Insurancenewsnet)
Date: 12/23/2011
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=318882
Overview: Hospital leaders entering the physician practice acquisition pool should take into account the inherent differences between hospital and physician revenue cycles. …
98. Title: Hooper, Lundy & Bookman Releases ACO White Paper
Source: Business Wire
Date: 12/26/2011
Overview: National Health Law Firm Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC (HLB) has just released Accountable Care Organization Final Regulations: Analysis and Implications, an in-depth report addressing the significant issues …
99. Title: Electronic Medical Records; Cloud Networking Initiatives Drive Healthcare IT Provider to Choose Aerohive's Enterprise Wi-Fi Solution
Source: Healthcare Technology Magazine
Date: 12/31/2011
Overview: Aerohive Networks, the pioneer in controller-less Wi-Fi and cloud-enabled networking, announced that Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of innovative electronic health record (EHR) …
100. Title: bumps along the ACO road
Source: Healthcare Financial Management
Date: December 2011
http://davidyoung.org/Resources/Docs/BumpsAlongtheACORoad.pdf
Overview: Accountable care organizations (ACOs) can expect to encounter several challenges that are not addressed in the final guidelines for participation in Medicare's ACO project. ...
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