Memorial Hermann Accountable Care Organization : Medicare Shared Savings Program Performance Year 2015 Quality and Financial Results
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ( CMS ) today announced the 2015 performance year results for the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model that show physicians , hospitals and health care providers participating in Accountable Care Organizations continue to make significant improvements in the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries , while achieving cost savings .
In 2015 , Medicare Accountable Care Organizations had combined total program savings of $ 466 million , which includes all Accountable Care Organizations ’ experiences , for 392 Medicare Shared Savings Program participants and 12 Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model participants . The results show that more Accountable Care Organizations shared savings in 2015 compared to 2014 , and those with more experience tend to perform better over time .
Medicare ACOs are groups of doctors , hospitals , and other health care providers , who come together voluntarily to provide coordinated high quality care to their Medicare patients . The goal of coordinated care is to ensure that patients , especially the chronically ill , get the right care at the right time , while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors . When an ACO exceeds quality and financial thresholds – demonstrating achievement of high-quality care and wiser spending of health care dollars – it is able to share in the savings generated for Medicare .
The Memorial Hermann Accountable Care Organization is one of the ACOs that shared savings .
“ A commitment to delivering high quality and safe care is fundamental to the Memorial Hermann ’ s mission and a key reason why our ACO continues to achieve year-over-year success ,” said Dr . Benjamin K . Chu , President and CEO , Memorial Hermann . “ In the three years since the Memorial Hermann ACO volunteered for MSSP , it has delivered a value proposition of better clinical outcomes and lower costs to Medicare recipients , many of whom are on fixed incomes . These types of results bode well for that population – and all populations – going forward .”
Chris Lloyd , Senior Vice President and CEO of MHMD , the Memorial Hermann Physician Network and Memorial Hermann ACO , added : “ When we began this journey four years ago , our objective was to reduce the cost of care while at the same time demonstrate increased quality by using data to underpin the practice of evidence-based medicine ,” said Lloyd . “ Our year-over-year performance for three consecutive years confirms that our clinically-integrated physicians ’ network combined with our use of innovative technology and a team concept to managing the care of patients is not only resulting in savings but also high quality clinical outcomes .”
Nishant Anand , MD , FACEP , as Physician-in-Chief for MHMD said regarding the savings : “ We are excited about the MSSP results ,” said Anand . “ We also are firmly committed to population health . Going forward , we are even more excited as we will continue to improve the coordination of care as well as redefine the delivery of care through new innovative models . We are building the type of coordinated , holistic care that we would want for ourselves and our loved ones – a model that truly emphasizes enhancing the health and wellbeing of our patients rather than simply providing ‘ sick care ’.”
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