Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Accountable Care Organizations
MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2018
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and offers recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Includes a chapter on ensuring appropriate access to and use of hospital emergency department (ED) services that provides extensive information on rural access to ED services and identifies examples of rural off-campus emergency departments. Other sections of the report addressing rural concerns focus on post-acute care, quality and value payment programs, and medical device payment policies. Also includes a report on the effects of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluates Medicare payment issues and offers recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Includes a chapter on ensuring appropriate access to and use of hospital emergency department (ED) services that provides extensive information on rural access to ED services and identifies examples of rural off-campus emergency departments. Other sections of the report addressing rural concerns focus on post-acute care, quality and value payment programs, and medical device payment policies. Also includes a report on the effects of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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The Evolution of Annual Wellness Visits at Bellin Health Partners Next Generation Accountable Care Organization
Features a primarily rural Accountable Care Organization serving Michigan's upper peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin. Outlines their initiative to maximize the benefits of annual wellness visits using a care team and health information technology. Addresses provider incentives and efforts to improve care team communications, as well as the initiative's results and next steps.
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Features a primarily rural Accountable Care Organization serving Michigan's upper peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin. Outlines their initiative to maximize the benefits of annual wellness visits using a care team and health information technology. Addresses provider incentives and efforts to improve care team communications, as well as the initiative's results and next steps.
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Relationships and Partnerships: How ACOs Are Improving Treatments for Super-Utilizers
Highlights three rural Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that are working to improve care for their super-utilizer patients. Features three success stories showing how the ACOs helped meet patient needs and improve patient health.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights three rural Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that are working to improve care for their super-utilizer patients. Features three success stories showing how the ACOs helped meet patient needs and improve patient health.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Illinois Rural Community Care Organization – Princeton, IL: Statewide Rural Accountable Care Organization
Provides an overview of the work and impact of the Illinois Rural Community Care Organization (IRCCO), a Medicare shared savings Accountable Care Organization (ACO). IRCCO includes 24 Critical Access Hospitals and rural hospitals and associated physician practices and clinics.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Provides an overview of the work and impact of the Illinois Rural Community Care Organization (IRCCO), a Medicare shared savings Accountable Care Organization (ACO). IRCCO includes 24 Critical Access Hospitals and rural hospitals and associated physician practices and clinics.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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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
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
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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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
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' sex, 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
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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' sex, 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
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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
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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
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