What is an Accountable Care Organization?
Groups of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers can enter into an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), creating a network to work together coordinating care for Medicare Fee for Service (FFS) patients and striving to improve the experience of care, improve the health of populations, and reduce per capita costs of healthcare.
ACOs will work together by sharing information and practices to improve the quality of care in many ways such as: reduce unnecessary tests or procedures, improve patient education and understanding of their care, and help patients to arrange appointments and services. An ACO may employ caregivers, sometimes called Care Advisors, outside of the participants' organization to help coordinate patient care.
IHCI manages Accountable Care Organization’s with CMS through the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). IHCI brings together providers in Indiana to help them manage care for their Medicare FFS patients.
What is the Medicare Shared Savings Program?
The Medicare Shared Savings Program, also referred to as MSSP, is a type of government-sponsored program for ACOs. The ACO is responsible for coordinating care for the FFS Medicare patients (beneficiaries), improving quality of care, and measuring and demonstrating improvements. The ACO is also responsible for reporting their performance.