Two Northeast Ohio health systems — Summa Health System in Akron and University Hospitals in Cleveland — have begun working with National group purchasing organization to create accountable care organizations aimed at improving coordination of care and reforming the way providers are paid (Source: “Alternative to HMOs coordinates treatment delivery,” Akron Beacon Journal, July 5, 2010).
Under the ACO concept, doctors and hospitals would get financial incentives to work together to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital. The partners would coordinate their care and then share in any savings if quality and cost goals are achieved. Federal health reform legislation allows for ACOs through Medicare, beginning in 2012 . Under the law, patients in traditional Medicare will be assigned to an ACO if their normal provider participates.
Under the ACO concept, doctors and hospitals would get financial incentives to work together to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital. The partners would coordinate their care and then share in any savings if quality and cost goals are achieved. Federal health reform legislation allows for ACOs through Medicare, beginning in 2012 . Under the law, patients in traditional Medicare will be assigned to an ACO if their normal provider participates.
