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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Accountable Care Organizations

Medicare Accountable Care Organization Growth in Rural America, 2014-2016
Data report comparing accountable care organization (ACO) growth in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. Features statistics including numbers of ACOs with attributed beneficiaries, beneficiaries attributed to an ACO per county, growth in percentage of fee-for-service beneficiaries, and growth in percentage of beneficiaries attributed to ACOs, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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ACOs' Impact on Hospitalization Rates of Rural Older Adults with Diabetes: Early Indications
Examines the impact of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) on reducing the hospitalization rate for diabetes related conditions of older adults living in rural southeast areas of the U.S. where the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is higher. Highlights the characteristics of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) participating in ACOs and the adult patients they serve.
Author(s): Yi-Ling Lin, Judith Ortiz, Celeste Boor
Citation: Family & Community Health, 41(4), 265-273
Date: 2018
Type: Document
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Cost of Practice Transformation in Primary Care: Joining an Accountable Care Organization
Examines the cost of becoming part of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) using data from over 800 RHCs in nine states. Compares the cost per patient of RHCs that were part of the Medicare Shared Savings Program to a similar group of RHCs that were not part of the program.
Author(s): Richard Hofler, Judith Ortiz, Brian Cote
Citation: Journal of Health Care Finance, 44(3), 1-16
Date: 2018
Type: Document
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Emerging Strategies to Ensure Access to Health Care Services: Frontier Health System
Discusses the challenges of providing care in frontier communities and offers solutions for improving access to and delivery of care. Proposes the creation of a frontier-specific accountable care organization (ACO), the Frontier Health System (FHS), that provides traditional ACO services along with transportation, swing beds, home-based care, expanded visiting nurse services, and more.
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Evaluation of the Minnesota Accountable Health Model
Describes the final results of Minnesota's State Innovation Model (SIM) initiative evaluation sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). Includes information on SIM investments in rural counties, considerations to strengthen and support infrastructure to advance integrated health partnerships in rural areas, and engagement strategies to include rural clinics and providers in Health Care Homes care coordination cost study.
Author(s): Donna Spencer, Christina Worrall, Emily Zylla, et al.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening Through a New Model of Delivering Rural Primary Care in the USA: A Qualitative Study
Results of a study conducted in Nebraska, to explore ways in which colorectal cancer screening can be promoted by rural primary care clinics participating in an Accountable Care Organization. Features statistics including participants' gender, job, and breakdowns by three levels of rurality.
Author(s): Jungyoon Kim, Lufei Young, Sarbinaz Bekmuratova, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 17(1), 4187
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
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Making the Most of Evolving Payment Policies to Enhance Hospital-based Care in Rural Communities
Presentation slides from the 2017 Rural Health Care Leadership Conference that discuss the transition from volume to value for rural hospital payment and how to make the most of resources available to facilities. Includes examples of services and documents for reference as well as data and statistics surrounding Medicare Advantage and Accountable Care Organizations in rural communities.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Accountable Care Organization Implementation Experiences and Rural Participation: Considerations for Nurses
Examines implications of Accountable Care Organization (ACO) development for advanced practice nurses and other primary care clinicians employed by rural practices such as Rural Health Clinics that may be considering ACO participation.
Author(s): Matt Thomas Bagwell, Angeline Bushy, Judith Ortiz
Citation: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 47(1), 30-34
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
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Critical Access Hospital Financial Model
Excel-based modeling tool designed to help Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) anticipate and analyze the financial impacts of joining a Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) Accountable Care Organization (ACO).
Date: 2017
Type: Tool
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Spread of Accountable Care Organizations in Rural America
Uses data through December 2015 to reveal trends in rural Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) activity, and discusses motivations behind the recent increase in rural ACO participation. Includes maps of ACO presence by county, illustrating changes that occurred between 2013 and 2015.
Author(s): Keith Mueller, Fred Ullrich
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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