Scaling an Accountable Care Organization
Value-Based Care is Here to Stay
Integrated Delivery Networks and ACOs have had varied levels of success in risk-based contracts and shared savings models. That is great news! The initial achievements in Value-Based Care are an important step in setting conditions for ongoing growth. They build momentum, prove there are clinical and financial incentives, attract new participants, and put some critical infrastructure in place.
However, every organization needs to be prepared to scale.
ACOs and health systems have a tremendous opportunity for organic growth just by adding new Value-Based Care contracts to support existing medical practices and their patients. This kind of growth requires extending interventions and methods for cost and quality across existing patient panels.
Most health systems and ACOs should also expect growth by acquisition. As a health system acquires additional hospitals or practices, or the ACO attracts additional practices and clinical partners, it is critical to distribute standards and best practices.
Critical Questions to Address for Growth
Can your ACO clearly and quickly describe the most critical best practices and interventions to new practices? Will these new practices enhance cost and quality for the existing participants, or will they bring it down? How quickly can the ACO or IDN train and develop new participants to perform at the standard set by practices that have been executing for several years? How does the organization deploy resources to support expansion?