January 2018 ~

In an effort to bring transparency and to identify best practices and areas for improvement, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) has announced a first-of-its-kind, state-wide, all-payer initiative. Seventeen organizations have already been certified though the state’s new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) certification program.

According to the HPC, the overall goal is to create a health care delivery system that delivers coordinated, patient-centered health care that accounts for patients’ behavioral, social, and medical needs.

“The ACO program represents a significant change in the way MassHealth contracts with health care organizations throughout the state,” said Massachusetts Secretary for Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “The goal of the ACO program is to improve the care coordination and health outcomes for 850,000 MassHealth members and we are pleased they all met the thorough certification standards.”

“The ACO Certification Program will bring new transparency and information to the public regarding how ACOs are structured and operating today,” added David Seltz, HPC Executive Director. “The HPC expects to analyze the information received and identify best practices and areas of improvement for payers, policy-makers, researchers, providers, and consumers.”

The following organizations have met the certification requirements:

• Atrius Health, Inc.
• Baycare Health Partners, Inc., inclusive of Pioneer Valley Accountable Care, LLC; and Baystate Health Care Alliance, LLC
• Beth Israel Deaconess Physician Organization, LLC (Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization)
• Boston Accountable Care Organization, Inc.
• Cambridge Public Health Commission D/B/A Cambridge Health Alliance
• Children’s Medical Center Corporation, inclusive of Children’s Hospital Integrated Care Organization, LLC; and Boston Children’s Health Accountable Care Organization (Boston Children’s Accountable Care Organization)
• Community Care Cooperative, Inc.
• Lahey Health System, Inc., inclusive of Lahey Clinical Performance Network, LLC; and Lahey Clinical Performance Accountable Care Organization, LLC
• The Mercy Hospital, Inc., inclusive of Mercy Health Accountable Care Organization, LLC; and Riverbend Medical Group, Inc.
• Partners HealthCare System, Inc., inclusive of Partners HealthCare Accountable Care Organization, LLC
• Reliant Medical Group, Inc., inclusive of Fallon 365 Care
• Signature Healthcare Corporation D/B/A Signature Healthcare
• Southcoast Health System, Inc., inclusive of Southcoast Accountable Care Organization, LLC; and Southcoast Health Network, LLC
• Steward Health Care Network, Inc., inclusive of Steward Integrated Care Network, Inc.; and Steward Medicaid Care Network, Inc.
• Wellforce, Inc., inclusive of Wellforce Care Plan, LLC; Lowell General Hospital/Lowell General Physician Hospital Organization; Circle Health Alliance, LLC; New England Quality Care Alliance, Inc.; and NEQCA Accountable Care, Inc.

In addition, the following organizations achieved provisional ACO Certification, which is for organizations without prior risk contracting experience that will begin operating as ACOs in the new MassHealth ACO program in 2018:

• Health Collaborative of the Berkshires, LLC
• Merrimack Valley Accountable Care Organization, LLC

To qualify for an evaluation for certification, organizations were required to provide information for 15 standards, including patient-centered governance, performance improvement strategy, and experience in quality-based risk contracts, population health management programs, and ability to coordinate cross-continuum care. Full certification is effective for two years and organizations with provisional certification must apply for full certification within one year.

 

 

Source(s): Leavitt Partners Weekly News Summary; Commonwealth of Massachusetts;