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Accountability across the Continuum: The Participation of Postacute Care Providers in Accountable Care Organizations
Author(s) -
Colla Carrie H.,
Lewis Valerie A.,
Bergquist Savannah L.,
Shortell Stephen M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1475-6773
pISSN - 0017-9124
DOI - 10.1111/1475-6773.12442
Subject(s) - medicaid , accountability , inclusion (mineral) , principal (computer security) , service provider , continuum of care , business , managed care , nursing , medicine , service (business) , psychology , computer science , health care , computer security , marketing , social psychology , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Objective To examine the extent to which accountable care organizations ( ACO s) formally incorporate postacute care providers. Data Sources The National Survey of ACO s ( N = 269, response rate 66 percent). Study Design We report statistics on ACO s' formal inclusion of postacute care providers and the organizational characteristics and clinical capabilities of ACO s that have postacute care. Principal Findings Half of ACO s formally include at least one postacute service, with inclusion at higher rates in ACO s with commercial (64 percent) and Medicaid contracts (70 percent) compared to ACO s with Medicare contracts only (45 percent). ACO s that have a formal relationship with a postacute provider are more likely to have advanced transition management, end of life planning, readmission prevention, and care management capabilities. Conclusions Many ACO s have not formally engaged postacute care, which may leave room to improve service integration and care management.