Accountable Care Organization, Healthcare Big Data, Healthcare Portal, and ACO Implementation Resources
FEATURED ARTICLES: ACO
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![IT Security]( "Expert Offers Advice On Maintaining Data Security")
Expert Offers Advice On Maintaining Data SecurityWith the September 23 deadline for covered entities to reach compliance with the final HIPAA omnibus rule approaching, one expert talks about how providers can ensure data security By Greg Bengel, contributing writer
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7 HIPAA Myths Debunked8/5/2014
Security risk analysis is not optional and must address privacy and security issues. By Christine Kern, contributing writer
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UnitedHealthcare Shuffles Management Team On Eve Of Open Enrollment11/14/2014
Leadership team revamped as UnitedHealth poises itself to play in ACA marketplaces. By Christine Kern, contributing writer
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1 In 6 EHR Users Considering Switching9/9/2013
A poll by Black Book Rankings found many providers are leaving their current EMR systems for web based alternatives By Katie Wike, contributing writer
CASE STUDIES & WHITE PAPERS
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Using mHealth To Work Smarter12/1/2011A widely used term in the rapidly changing world of mobile technologies for healthcare is mHealth.
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7 Tips To Getting Paid For Meaningful Use6/5/2012
The clock is ticking down for physician practices looking to receive the full incentive for achieving Stage 1 Meaningful Use, but the tips in this white paper can help you get there before the deadline arrives.
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Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Reduces Transcription Costs By 90%, Increases EHR Adoption4/16/2012
With 400 physicians and 1,700 staff members, Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group is one of the largest, most comprehensive medical groups in San DiegoCounty. Each of the group’s 19 locations offers primary and specialty care, laboratory, physical therapy, radiology, pharmacy and urgent care services.
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How To Get Paid For Meaningful Use: 7 Tips From The EHR Trenches8/10/2012
In this white paper athenahealth provides tips to make sure your practice will receive its incentive payment for implementing a system compliant with Stage 1 Meaningful Use (MU).
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
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![Ken Congdon, Editor In Chief of Health IT Outcomes]( "The Problem With Consumerism In Healthcare")
The Problem With Consumerism In HealthcareMany industry leaders championed a free market approach to healthcare during the 12th Annual World Health Care Congress last week. Here are a few key reasons why I don’t think this model is “the fix” our industry so desperately needs.
ABOUT ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS (ACO)
An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) utilizes a payment and care delivery system that bases payments to providers on quality metrics and seeks to reduce the total cost of care for a certain population of patients. ACOs use a range of payment models and consist of groups of coordinated healthcare providers that provide care to groups of patients. ACOs are accountable to a third-party payer and the group of patients for the appropriateness, quality, and efficiency of the health services they provide.
In 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) set forth initial guidelines for ACOs to be created under the Medicare Shared Savings Program. These guidelines contained all necessary steps required for a physician, health care provider, or hospital to voluntarily participate in ACOs.
The quality measures used to evaluate an ACO's performance as defined by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) fall into five domains. These domains are patient/caregiver experience, care coordination, patient safety, preventative health, and at-risk population/frail elderly health.
The three stakeholders in an ACO are the providers, payers, and patients. Providers are a network of hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. The primary payer is the federal government, Medicare, but also includes other payers such as private insurances or employee-purchased insurance. The patient population of an ACO will primarily consist of Medicare beneficiaries, but in larger ACOs can also include those who are homeless and uninsured.
FEATURED NEWS
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ACOs Face Interoperability Barriers2/8/2016
According to a new report, a lack of out-of-network interoperability is the biggest obstacle facing ACOs today. By Katie Wike, contributing writer
ACO NEWS ARTICLES
- Upcoming Webinar: Data-Driven Care: The Key To Accountable Care Delivery From A Physician Group Perspective
- WEDI Releases Guide On HIPAA Transactions Requiring ICD-10 Codes
- Automated Quality Reporting Through EHRs Can Result In Significant Efficiencies And Care Improvements
- CMS Releases Updated Data On EHR Adoption
- West Florida ACO Chooses Sandlot Solutions As Partner In Patient Health Information Management