Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Accountable Care Organizations
How to Better Support Small Physician-led Accountable Care Organizations: Recent Program Updates, Challenges, and Policy Implications
Describes the strategies of successful small physician-led Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Discusses how policy changes contribute to the opportunities and challenges for these ACOs. Explores how "ACO Enablers" aid small ACOs in participating in risk-bearing models. Includes a brief discussion of how the ACO Investment Model program supported ACOs in rural and underserved areas with access to capital.
Author(s): Jonathan Gonzalez-Smith, Hannah Crook, Elizabeth Singletary, William Bleser, Robert Saunders
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Describes the strategies of successful small physician-led Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Discusses how policy changes contribute to the opportunities and challenges for these ACOs. Explores how "ACO Enablers" aid small ACOs in participating in risk-bearing models. Includes a brief discussion of how the ACO Investment Model program supported ACOs in rural and underserved areas with access to capital.
Author(s): Jonathan Gonzalez-Smith, Hannah Crook, Elizabeth Singletary, William Bleser, Robert Saunders
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Second Evaluation Report: Next Generation Accountable Care Organization Model Evaluation
Reports on the impact of the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization model in 2016 and 2017, with information on the full sample of 46 participating NGACOs. Provides information on the models' impact on gross and net Medicare spending. The appendices include data on community characteristics, including rurality.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Reports on the impact of the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization model in 2016 and 2017, with information on the full sample of 46 participating NGACOs. Provides information on the models' impact on gross and net Medicare spending. The appendices include data on community characteristics, including rurality.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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The Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Program: South East Rural Physicians Alliance
Describes and examines the impact of a care coordination program developed by the South East Rural Physicians Alliance-Independent Physician Association located in Nebraska. Program focuses on clinic-based care coordination for high-risk patients with diagnosed diabetes or congestive heart failure. Funded under the Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Grant Program from 2015-2018.
Date: 2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Describes and examines the impact of a care coordination program developed by the South East Rural Physicians Alliance-Independent Physician Association located in Nebraska. Program focuses on clinic-based care coordination for high-risk patients with diagnosed diabetes or congestive heart failure. Funded under the Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Grant Program from 2015-2018.
Date: 2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Financial Incentives to Improve Community Health
Slides presented at the 2019 National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) Annual Meeting discussing several federal initiatives as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), resulting in controlled costs, improved quality of care, and offering financial incentives. Identifies how State Offices of Rural Health can support health organizations to participate successfully in these initiatives.
Author(s): Keith Mueller
Date: 10/2019
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Slides presented at the 2019 National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) Annual Meeting discussing several federal initiatives as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), resulting in controlled costs, improved quality of care, and offering financial incentives. Identifies how State Offices of Rural Health can support health organizations to participate successfully in these initiatives.
Author(s): Keith Mueller
Date: 10/2019
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Evaluation of the Accountable Care Organization Investment Model: AIM Implementation and Impacts over Two Performance Years
Evaluation examining the first two years of the ACO Investment Model (AIM), which tests the use of prepaid shared savings to encourage new ACOs to form in rural and underserved areas (Test 1) and to encourage current Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs to transition to arrangements with greater financial risk (Test 2). Reports on AIM ACO composition, including rurality. Appendices include detailed information on each AIM ACO.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Evaluation examining the first two years of the ACO Investment Model (AIM), which tests the use of prepaid shared savings to encourage new ACOs to form in rural and underserved areas (Test 1) and to encourage current Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs to transition to arrangements with greater financial risk (Test 2). Reports on AIM ACO composition, including rurality. Appendices include detailed information on each AIM ACO.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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RHC - Becoming a Primary Care Medical Home
Presentation slides from an August 2019 webinar discussing how a Rural Health Clinic (RHC) can become a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). Profiles one RHC in the Mississippi Delta that became both a PCMH and an Accountable Care Organization and details the challenges and benefits of the transition. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Presentation slides from an August 2019 webinar discussing how a Rural Health Clinic (RHC) can become a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). Profiles one RHC in the Mississippi Delta that became both a PCMH and an Accountable Care Organization and details the challenges and benefits of the transition. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project Guide: A Rural Hospital Guide to Improving Care Management: 2019 Update
A guide for rural hospital leadership that identifies best practices in care management. Addresses care management roles and staffing needs and covers utilization review and discharge planning. Helps identify opportunities for process improvement. Also discusses competencies needed to transition to a value-based reimbursement environment focused on population health.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Stroudwater Associates
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A guide for rural hospital leadership that identifies best practices in care management. Addresses care management roles and staffing needs and covers utilization review and discharge planning. Helps identify opportunities for process improvement. Also discusses competencies needed to transition to a value-based reimbursement environment focused on population health.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Stroudwater Associates
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Accelerating Value-Based Payment in California's Federally Qualified Health Centers: Options for Medicaid Health Plans
Highlights examples of value-based payment (VBP) models for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including a rural Hawaii model and a Colorado model that incorporates rural FQHCs. Covers Accountable Care Organization (ACO) models, state-led Capitated Alternative Payment Models (APMs), state-led quality payment adjustments, and Medicaid shared savings ACO models. Addresses how FQHCs and health plans can overcome challenges when launching new VBP models and offers recommendations for California's health plans.
Author(s): Greg Howe, Tricia McGinnis, Rob Houston
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Highlights examples of value-based payment (VBP) models for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including a rural Hawaii model and a Colorado model that incorporates rural FQHCs. Covers Accountable Care Organization (ACO) models, state-led Capitated Alternative Payment Models (APMs), state-led quality payment adjustments, and Medicaid shared savings ACO models. Addresses how FQHCs and health plans can overcome challenges when launching new VBP models and offers recommendations for California's health plans.
Author(s): Greg Howe, Tricia McGinnis, Rob Houston
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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ACOs' Strategies for Transitioning to Value-Based Care: Lessons From the Medicare Shared Savings Program
Describes strategies used by successful Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to reduce spending and increase healthcare quality. Addresses social determinants of health, behavioral health, reducing hospitalizations, using technology to share information, and more. Two of the 20 ACOs included in the study served rural communities.
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Describes strategies used by successful Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to reduce spending and increase healthcare quality. Addresses social determinants of health, behavioral health, reducing hospitalizations, using technology to share information, and more. Two of the 20 ACOs included in the study served rural communities.
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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The Interface of Policy Dynamics and Transforming Rural Health Care Services
Slides presented at the 2019 Western Region Flex Conference discussing the effect of public policy transformation on rural healthcare. Identifies policy initiatives and responses taken by healthcare organizations and management. Highlights new models of approaches, collaborations, and partnerships to sustain programs and services.
Author(s): Keith Mueller
Date: 06/2019
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Slides presented at the 2019 Western Region Flex Conference discussing the effect of public policy transformation on rural healthcare. Identifies policy initiatives and responses taken by healthcare organizations and management. Highlights new models of approaches, collaborations, and partnerships to sustain programs and services.
Author(s): Keith Mueller
Date: 06/2019
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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