In 2018, articles in The American Journal of Accountable Care® (AJAC) analyzed experiences within accountable care organizations (ACOs), the cost-effectiveness of initiatives to prevent readmissions, and much more. Here are the top 5 most-read articles published in AJAC in 2018.
In 2018, articles in The American Journal of Accountable Care® (AJAC) analyzed experiences within accountable care organizations (ACOs), the cost-effectiveness of initiatives to prevent readmissions, and much more. Here are the top 5 most-read articles published in AJAC in 2018.
5. A Managed Care Organization's Call Center—Based Social Support Role
According to this case study, a managed care organization has found success in addressing members’ social determinants of health by offering assistance from CommUnity Liaisons, who are laypeople trained to answer calls from participants in need of family support, transportation, and housing assistance. Interviews with stakeholders confirmed that the CommUnity Liaisons provided informational support to members through advice, suggestions, and helpful information.
4. Thirty-Day Readmissions: Relationship to Physician Attending Type and Social Connectedness
As more health providers are recognizing loneliness as a major determinant of health outcomes, a retrospective cohort study confirms that patients with lower social connectedness were more likely to be readmitted after a hospitalization for congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or pneumonia. Conversely, those who were admitted to the hospital by a geriatrician were less likely to be admitted, pointing to the importance of enhanced care coordination.
3. Cost-Effectiveness of Pharmacist Postdischarge Follow-Up to Prevent Medication-Related Admissions
Having pharmacists contact patients within 72 hours of discharge to identify and resolve medication-related problems was a cost-effective method of reducing readmissions and costs, this analysis found. The 30-day readmission rates were 16.2% for patients receiving the follow-up calls and 21.6% for those receiving usual care, and average costs per patient were $3433 and $4014, respectively. The study authors suggest that the program could yield cost savings for hospitals operating in a capitated model or being reimbursed based on population health.
2. Medicare Accountable Care Spending Patterns: Shifting Expenditures Associated With Savings
An analysis of spending patterns among ACOs in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) finds that categories of expenditures are shifting over time, and these shifts may be associated with financial savings. MSSP ACOs that are spending a smaller proportion of money on inpatient and postacute care services and a greater proportion on services in the physician office and hospice settings are seeing more savings, according to the researchers. They called for further research into how ACOs may achieve reductions in spending without sacrificing quality.
1. ACO Quality Over Time: The MSSP Experience and Opportunities for System-Wide Improvement
Another analysis by some of the authors of the previous study looked into changes in quality among MSSP ACOs. They found that quality improved over time despite the ACOs’ older, sicker populations, which indicates that such a model could succeed in other settings or populations. The findings suggest that quality improvement efforts may be boosted by allocating sufficient infrastructure funding, building good relationships with postacute care facilities, and learning from the experiences of diverse ACOs.
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.
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Innovation in Value-Based Care Requires More Data, Patient-Centered Thinking
November 9th 2023In a panel discussion at the 2023 Patient-Centered Oncology Care® meeting held in Nashville, Tennessee, experts discussed the Enhancing Oncology Model and themes in the movement toward value-based care in oncology.
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Nathan Walcker Discusses Value-Based Oncology Care Initiatives at FCS
September 8th 2023Nathan Walcker, CEO at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), highlights some of the recent partnerships and initiatives at FCS to improve community-based oncology care from a value-based perspective.
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EOM Shows Awareness of Issues, but Provides No Resources, Says COA’s Nicolas Ferreyros
November 4th 2023The Enhancing Oncology Model is trying to address a number of the systemic challenges oncology faces without giving practices the tools and resources they need, said Nicolas Ferreyros, managing director of policy, advocacy, and communications, Community Oncology Alliance.
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