September 25, 2024 – The National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) today published a report that leaders in our health system can turn to for how to build successful, long-lasting accountable care arrangements. ACO Drivers for Success, details challenges and best practices for ACOs. NAACOS conducted in-depth interviews with leadership teams of high-performing ACOs and reviewed literature on ACOs. Five key strategies emerged and are detailed in the report. In sharing these themes, NAACOS hopes to spur ACO adoption and success and ultimately accelerate the transition to value-based care.
- Working across payers. ACOs found that their transition to value-based care gained momentum when they had arrangements with multiple payers. However, streamlining these arrangements is critical, as ACOs find it challenging to manage to varying policies and program designs.
- Building a high-value culture. ACOs encourage leaders to focus on the vision of value and communicate how value-based care enhances patient outcomes and provider satisfaction. Focusing on learning and continuous improvement is a hallmark of high-value culture.
- Leveraging data and tools. Data enables ACOs to identify variations in care patterns, quality gaps, and how much care is needed. ACOs use data to illustrate why providers need to change their behavior, thus reinforcing the shift to value-based care. Some ACOs partner with vendors, while others build in-house capabilities, each with its own advantages and challenges.
- Implementing successful clinical interventions. ACOs emphasize proactive care and keeping people healthy to avoid unnecessary care. Expanding access to primary care helps reduce unnecessary hospital visits, providing patients with better options to improve their health. While often starting with primary care, ACOs enhance specialist care to manage cost and improve quality and outcomes.
- Effectively engaging patients in care. ACOs aim to build strong, trusting relationships with patients to provide personalized and coordinated care. ACOs educate patients on how to manage their health effectively, such as using a 24/7 nurse triage line or extended office hours instead of going directly to the emergency room.
The full report and two-page summary are online. If you’d like to be connected with an ACO for more information, please let me know.
ACOs have generated $22 billion in savings over the last decade and returned more than $8 billion after accounting for shared savings and losses. In addition, they’ve proven to increase the quality of care delivered by providers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a goal to have all traditional Medicare beneficiaries in an accountable care relationship with a provider who is responsible for their quality and total cost of care by 2030.
About NAACOS. The National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) represents more than 9.1 million beneficiary lives through Medicare’s population health-focused payment and delivery models. NAACOS is a member-led and member-owned nonprofit of more than 470 ACOs in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance working on behalf of health systems and physician provider organizations across the nation to improve quality of care for patients and reduce health care cost.
