As we emerge from a global pandemic, accountable care organizations must address key new trends now to maintain progress toward value-based care and mitigate financial risk.  Analytics are key to helping ACOs gain a better understanding of trends so they can identify opportunities to drive quality improvement. These trends include: gaps in access to clinical care;  shifts in patient volume; increased demand for virtual care; and  social determinants of health challenges.  To better understand rising trends and actions providers should take, we will reach out to hospital and health system leaders to discuss how recent trends influenced their decision to adopt value-based contracts. Then, during our July 28 webinar, we will release a comprehensive market report on these trends and implications for the future. Preventing gaps in access to clinical care Advanced payment models incentivize ACOs to deliver high-quality care and close gaps in care for patients, thereby earn...

Redesigned MSSP program The Medicare Shared Savings Program, one of Medicare’s largest alternative payment models, allows providers and suppliers the opportunity to form an Accountable Care Organization. It was redesigned in 2018, establishing “Pathways to Success” as a way to restructure participation and encourage ACOs to transition to two-sided risk models.  As part of this rule, a BASIC track was established for ACOs to begin participation under an upside-only risk model and to incrementally phase into a two-sided risk model through a glide path. The glide path is composed of Levels A through E, in which there is progressively greater financial risk and potential opportunity for savings.  It is critically important for ACOs to understand how their level of participation in MSSP will change in the coming years. COVID-19 impact on MSSP advancement The COVID-19 public health emergency has disrupted efforts to improve population health and care coordination, and has resulted i...