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Resources by Topic: Accountable Care Organizations

Medicare Accountable Care Organizations: Quality Performance by Geographic Categories
Using CMS 2014 and 2015 Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) data, this brief examines the differences in ACO performance on 4 domains of quality measures: Patient/Caregiver Experience (PCE), Care Coordination/Patient Safety (CCP), Preventive Health (PH), and At-Risk Population (AtR) in rural and urban areas, and discusses the overall quality score of Medicare Shared Savings ACOs by geographic category.
Author(s): Xi Zhu, Keith Mueller, Thomas Vaughn, Fred Ullrich, A. Clinton MacKinney
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Costs of Accountable Care Organization Participation for Primary Care Providers: Early Stage Results
Analyzes data from 2012 and 2013 Medicare cost reports to determine whether joining an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is associated with an increase in a Rural Health Clinic's (RHC) per visit cost, particularly during the first two years of participation.
Author(s): Richard A. Hofler, Judith Ortiz
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 16(315)
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
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2016 Financial Leadership Summit Report: Strategies for Rural Hospitals Transitioning to Value-based Purchasing and Population Health
Provides rural hospital administrators strategies for meeting the challenges of a changing healthcare environment. Includes discussion on alternative payment models, the impact of market forces, successful examples. and lessons learned. Offers information for developing tools to support hospitals and networks as they transition to value-based purchasing and population health.
Additional links: Webinar Playback: Rural Strategies for Transitioning to Value-based Purchasing and Population Health, Webinar Slides: Rural Strategies for Transitioning to Value-based Purchasing and Population Health
Author(s): Mark Chustz
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Medicare Accountable Care Organizations: Beneficiary Assignment Update
Clarifies the changes issued in June 2015 regarding Accountable Care Organization's (ACO) beneficiary assignment under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ACO regulations. Addresses how the changes make it easier for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to participate in ACOs.
Author(s): Thomas Vaughn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Fred Ullrich, Xi Zhu
Date: 06/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Medicaid Payment and Delivery System Reform: Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Health Systems
An analysis of the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on rural Medicaid programs across the U.S. Examines their acceptance of alternate payment models and their applications of delivery system reform. Provides policy recommendations supporting integrated and comprehensive primary care delivery and rural participation in value-based payment and delivery system reforms.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Charlie Alfero, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 06/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Rural ACO Leaders Speak: What Have Been the Biggest Challenges and the Biggest Advantages to Creating Your ACO?
Five rural Accountable Care Organization (ACO) leaders discuss the biggest challenges and advantages they've experienced in building an ACO.
Author(s): Zachary Toliver
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Accountable Care Organizations: Looking Back and Moving Forward
Identifies key lessons from Accountable Care Organization (ACO) activities from their inception through 2015, examines how ACOs can build on successes, and informs policymakers and others about ways to further the development of effective ACOs. Includes a brief overview of virtual and rural ACO development.
Author(s): Rob Houston, Tricia McGinnis
Date: 01/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Rural Accountable Care Guide: Preparing Rural Health for the Approaching Accountable Care Era
A practical guide for healthcare providers and administrators to the successful creation of an ACO in a rural community. Identifies the eight essential elements of an ACO and discusses how to implement an ACO in a rural setting.
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Toward Accountable Care Consortium and Initiative (TAC)
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ACO Investment Model, Rural Hospital Collaboration
Highlights how 3 rural Minnesota hospitals implemented the Accountable Care Organization Investment Model (AIM), which encourages coordinated care in rural areas through upfront and ongoing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) payments.
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Rural Health Services
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Primary Care Clinics and Accountable Care Organizations
Presents the findings of a survey sent to 257 Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in 9 states asking clinical management about their participation in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and their willingness to join an ACO.
Author(s): Judith Ortiz, Chiung-Ya Tang, Yi-Ling Lin, Maysoun D. Masri
Citation: Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology, 2015 (2)
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
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