Overall quality scores of ACOs in Medicare Shared Savings Program 2012-2021
Between 2012/2013 and 2021, the average overall quality score of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) has fluctuated but generally stayed over 90 percent. Medicare rates the quality of care delivered by ACOs using 33 nationally recognized measures across four domains: patient/caregiver experience, care coordination/patient safety, preventive health, at-risk population (such as diabetics).
ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who voluntarily collaborating to achieve coordinated enhanced quality of care, reduced costs, and improved health outcomes of a designated patient population. ACOs were introduced as part of the Affordable Care Act to shift the U.S. health system from volume-based care (fee-for-service) to value-based care (alternative payment models). When ACOs participating in MSSP spend less than their target (i.e. saves money for Medicare), they receive a share of the savings, that is if they also score well on quality measures.
ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who voluntarily collaborating to achieve coordinated enhanced quality of care, reduced costs, and improved health outcomes of a designated patient population. ACOs were introduced as part of the Affordable Care Act to shift the U.S. health system from volume-based care (fee-for-service) to value-based care (alternative payment models). When ACOs participating in MSSP spend less than their target (i.e. saves money for Medicare), they receive a share of the savings, that is if they also score well on quality measures.
