AJMC in the Press, September 9, 2016

David Ruth of Medical Xpress highlighted a study in the new issue of The American Journal of Managed Care by researchers at Rice University and the health insurer Cigna. In the paper, Vivian Ho, PhD, and her co-authors reported on the success of Cigna’s Collaborative Accountable Care initiative, which achieved savings through the use of an embedded care coordinator. Cigna funded the coordinator in a practice within a North Texas accountable care organization (ACO), and the investment could be replicated elsewhere. The ACO viewed the foray into population health as an essential competitive step. Most of the savings were achieved by sticking with lower cost providers; the study supported the idea that physician-led ACOs will promote their own revenue streams but find savings in those areas that extend outside their own practice or health system.