During the fall meeting of the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOS) in Washington, DC, speakers from the government and from various ACOs across the country shared their insights into the success and opportunities of these delivery models. Here are 5 takeaways from the NAACOS fall conference.
If the growing membership of the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOS) is any indication, healthcare delivery reform is being embraced by the United States. Membership has grown 33% just since Spring 2016.
During the fall meeting in Washington, DC, speakers from the government and from various ACOs across the country shared their insights into the success and opportunities of these delivery models. Here are 5 takeaways from the NAACOS fall conference.
1. It’s time to start acting like ACOs are here to stay
Ending the attitude that payment and delivery reform changes are short-lived or just in the testing phases is a sentiment that JAMA published 2 weeks ago. Jeff Spight of Universal American echoed that opinion during the first plenary at NAACOS. He explained that while the designation of “ACO” may change, what it stands for will endure.
“For the longest time this has been an experiment, a pilot, a try: ‘We’re going to test things,’” Spight said. “I think we need to pivot from that to become a permanent part of the healthcare delivery system.”
2. ACOs are performing better than people give them credit for
Recent results from the Medicare ACO programs showed that less than one-third generated shared savings, but the age of an ACO plays a huge part in how successful it is, explained Sean Cavanaugh, deputy administration and director of the Center for Medicare at CMS. He reported that 42% of ACOs that started in 2012 shared in savings.
“As we go through time we see more and more ACOs sharing in savings,” Cavanaugh said.
3. Healthcare transformation is difficult
A healthcare system that supports people to keep them as healthy as possible may be the goal, but getting there is not easy. It will require constant change and removing a lot of barriers in place.
“Transformation takes time,” said Patrick Conway, deputy administrator for Innovation & Quality and chief medical officer at CMS. “It’s a long journey; it’s not a sprint.”
However, transformation is taking place. Conway noted that there has been more change in healthcare delivery in the last few years than in decades.
4. The physicians must be on board
This is a sentiment that gets said at all of these types of meetings, but since physician buy in is so critical to the success of not only ACOs, but healthcare transformation as a whole, it bears repeating. David Klebonis of Doctors ACO said that the ACOs that were unable to get the physicians to change and actively participate are not around any more.
5. CMS is constantly making changes based on feedback
Cavanaugh and Conway were the highlights of day 1 of the conference, and both discussed how much work there is left to do. Cavanaugh discussed the June 2016 final rule that took into account ACO concerns and suggestions to compare them to their own region. The new rule moves away from comparing ACOs to their own history, which made it increasingly difficult to perform well enough to generate shared savings.
Conway added that CMS is listening as it finalizes rules for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. The new system represents a huge change in reimbursement as it sets up the merit-based incentive program and alternative payment models with a 5% bonus payment, and government officials have met with more than 60,000 people as part of the rule-making process.
The Pivotal Role of Payers in Improving Health Equity, Maternal Health Care in the US
March 26th 2024A presentation at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health's 2024 Women’s Health Summit discussed how payers, including employers and public entities, can strategically influence health care purchasing to prioritize maternal health and equity.
Read More
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Penn Medicine's Dr Justin Bekelman
December 19th 2023Justin Bekelman, MD, director of the Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, sat with our hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, for our final episode of 2023 to discuss the importance of collaboration between academic medicine and community oncology and testing innovative cancer care delivery in these settings.
Listen
Health Equity and Access Weekly Roundup: March 23, 2024
March 23rd 2024The Center on Health Equity and Access covered disparities in hypertension, diabetic eye health, and hidradenitis suppurativa, along with the proposed legislation banning diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in Alabama schools and the consequences in sickle cell care from the CDC guideline for opioid prescriptions.
Read More
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Thyme Care CEO and Cofounder Robin Shah
October 2nd 2023Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.
Listen