4 ways to get in on those great new ACO savings — even without joining one

Why This Topic Matters

Understanding the ACO model and the CMS performance environment can help practices assess cost-of-care initiatives, quality improvement efforts, and infrastructure investments. The article is relevant for organizations comparing their own operations with ACO-style approaches and evaluating how benchmarking can affect financial outcomes.

Article Sections

1. Accountable care organizations

   Introduces the ACO context and summarizes recent CMS performance results related to shared savings. It also provides background on why some organizations have been successful in this environment.

2. 4 ways to save like an ACO

   Outlines several broad operational themes that practices can examine when trying to improve care costs and performance. The section covers patient focus, health IT, leadership, and patient experience.

3. Evaluate benchmarks CMS will use

   Discusses how CMS benchmarking affects ACO financial performance and why regional conditions can influence results. It also mentions uncertainty around future benchmark methodology and possible policy changes.