Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I'll weigh in with some very general information. First of all, anybody who knows what an ACO (Accountable Care Organization) is is speculating: it's a concept but without an accepted definition. However, some of the savings envisioned in the ACA (Affordable Care Act, aka Healthcare Reform) is to be achieved through formation of ACOs. In general, the healthcare dollars are allocated to a " medical home " which focuses its resources on care management and appropriate utilization of resources. The ACO would conceivably contract with other providers for downstream care after hospitalization, because most people expect that hospitals will be accountable for not only the hospital stay, but care delivered in any setting for 30 days +/- after the hospital episode. This is new territory, and although many models exist around the country, those models all differ in the details. Atul Gawande's article in the Jan 17 New Yorker (it can be found online) gives a glimpse into the sorts of savings envisioned for these organizations. More utilization of primary care, and less utilization of high-cost treatment for catastrophic care. You are wise to learn all that you can about this topic. Unless ACA is derailed politically, this is very likely to affect rehab providers at all levels. Bob Perlson Director, Rehabilitation Rogue Valley Medical Center Medford, Oregon http://bpsrehabblog.blogspot.com/ ACO Can anyone give me information re: ACO's or lead me to links that may help. This seems to be a hot topic. Denny Bilas, PT Bilas Physical Therapy Poland, Ohio ------------------------------------ In ALL messages to PTManager you must identify yourself, your discipline and your location or else your message will not be approved to send to the full group. Physician Self Referal/Referral for Profit {POPTS} is a serious threat to our professions. PTManager is not available to support POPTS-model practices. The description of PTManager group includes the following: " PTManager believes in and supports Therapist-owned Therapy Practices ONLY " Messages relating to " how to set up a POPTS " will not be approved PTManager encourages participation in your professional association. Join APTA, AOTA or ASHA and participate now! Follow Kovacek, PT on Facebook or Twitter. PTManager blog: http://ptmanager.posterous.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hi Denny, Here are a few options: First is a good overview and history of ACO's at the following link (if the link does not work, email me directly) http://pnhpcalifornia.org/2010/10/the-history-and-definition-of-the-%E2%80%9 Caccountable-care-organization%E2%80%9D/ The second is the APTA Healthcare Reform section which has summary information of what ACO's mean to PT The third is CMS which has multiple information areas. Best to go to the CMS main page and search the site Hope that helps. Tom Howell, P.T., M.P.T. Howell Physical Therapy Eagle, ID thowell@... This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email. _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Dennis Bilas Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 11:34 AM To: PTManager Subject: ACO Can anyone give me information re: ACO's or lead me to links that may help. This seems to be a hot topic. Denny Bilas, PT Bilas Physical Therapy Poland, Ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I spoke to a neurologist MD a few months ago. He said the physicians in his metro areas were joining forces to head future healthcare dollar allocation. Their organization was composed of several hundred physicians from different practices that were planning to negotiate to be the gatekeeper in the system. His fear (no big surprise) was that hospitals would try to become the gatekeeper and try to control the physicians and healthcare rationing decisions. Let's see.. control by hospital executives, large physician groups, or insurance companies.. Umm, I wish I was smart & responsible enough to control my own health care dollar. I actually do believe we need rules and guidelines on allocation of " group " resources, I just fear any single group gaining control and pushing a personal agenda. Next election, I plan to vote for the party that cannot win so I can blame the other person for bad decisions. Steve Passmore PT, MS Healthy Recruiting Tools spass@... Phone: Fax: " What We Did For You Yesterday Is History. What Can We Do For You Today " Recruiting Tools: Cold Calls ~ List Enhancement ~ Direct Mailers ~ Card Design ~ Recruiting Software From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Perlson, Bob Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 3:27 PM To: PTManager Subject: RE: ACO I'll weigh in with some very general information. First of all, anybody who knows what an ACO (Accountable Care Organization) is is speculating: it's a concept but without an accepted definition. However, some of the savings envisioned in the ACA (Affordable Care Act, aka Healthcare Reform) is to be achieved through formation of ACOs. In general, the healthcare dollars are allocated to a " medical home " which focuses its resources on care management and appropriate utilization of resources. The ACO would conceivably contract with other providers for downstream care after hospitalization, because most people expect that hospitals will be accountable for not only the hospital stay, but care delivered in any setting for 30 days +/- after the hospital episode. This is new territory, and although many models exist around the country, those models all differ in the details. Atul Gawande's article in the Jan 17 New Yorker (it can be found online) gives a glimpse into the sorts of savings envisioned for these organizations. More utilization of primary care, and less utilization of high-cost treatment for catastrophic care. You are wise to learn all that you can about this topic. Unless ACA is derailed politically, this is very likely to affect rehab providers at all levels. Bob Perlson Director, Rehabilitation Rogue Valley Medical Center Medford, Oregon http://bpsrehabblog.blogspot.com/ ACO Can anyone give me information re: ACO's or lead me to links that may help. This seems to be a hot topic. Denny Bilas, PT Bilas Physical Therapy Poland, Ohio ------------------------------------ In ALL messages to PTManager you must identify yourself, your discipline and your location or else your message will not be approved to send to the full group. Physician Self Referal/Referral for Profit {POPTS} is a serious threat to our professions. PTManager is not available to support POPTS-model practices. The description of PTManager group includes the following: " PTManager believes in and supports Therapist-owned Therapy Practices ONLY " Messages relating to " how to set up a POPTS " will not be approved PTManager encourages participation in your professional association. Join APTA, AOTA or ASHA and participate now! Follow Kovacek, PT on Facebook or Twitter. PTManager blog: http://ptmanager.posterous.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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