Accountability in Healthcare
This week you will reflect upon accountability in healthcare and address the following questions:
Briefly define an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and how it impacts health care providers:
How do ACOs differ from the health maintenance organizations (HMOs) of earlier years
What role does health information technology (HIT) play in the newer models of care?
What is the benefit of hospitals partnering with primary care providers?
How does bundling payments contain healthcare costs?
How does pay for performance (P4P) improve quality care?
Briefly discuss the value-based purchasing program?
How do value-based purchasing (VBP) programs affect reimbursement to hospitals?
Who benefits the most from value-based reimbursement and why?
How does the VBP program measure hospital performance?
Sample Answer
Accountable Care Organization (ACO)
An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a group of healthcare providers that work together to provide coordinated care to patients. ACOs are responsible for the overall health of their patients, and they are rewarded for keeping patients healthy and out of the hospital.
How do ACOs differ from the health maintenance organizations (HMOs) of earlier years?
HMOs were the first type of managed care organization, and they were designed to control healthcare costs by providing comprehensive care to patients in exchange for a fixed fee. ACOs are similar to HMOs in that they are responsible for the overall health of their patients. However, ACOs are more focused on quality care, and they are rewarded for keeping patients healthy and out of the hospital.