Learn some simple truths about how ACO's operate and function. Adapted from http://www.insight-txcin.org/post/why-accountable-care-organizations-succeed

1. WHAT
IS AN
ACO?
BY TXCIN

2. An Accountable Care Organization,
or ACO, is a network of physicians,
specialists, surgeons, and hospitals
who agree to coordinate care for a
patient population, with the goal of
improving quality care, while
eliminating unnecessary spending.
http://www.insight-txcin.org/post/why-accountable-care-organizations-succeed

3. WHY WERE
ACO’S
ESTABLISHED?
ACO’s were established by the Center for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with
the goal to provide better care for individuals,
better health for populations, and lower
growth in expenditures (DHHS)

4. WHY
WERE
ACO’S
ESTAB-
LISHED?
It’s important to note that as
lawmakers searched for ways to
reduce the national deficit,
Medicare became a prime
target. With baby boomers
entering retirement age, the
costs of caring for the elderly
and disabled Americans were
expected to soar (Gold). ACO’s
could help cut costs, while
improving care. They became
the vehicle for implementing a
new payment model in
healthcare called “value-based
purchasing.

5. HOW DOES
AN ACO
WORK?
An ACO coordinates the communication
and medical care efforts of doctors,
imaging specialists, surgeons, hospitals,
home health caregivers, and even
pharmacies to diagnose and treat patients,
and to help them stay healthy in the
future.

6. ACO’s are designed to
change the traditional
healthcare model
through the following
ways:

7. C
A
O
Align the different component parts of patient care--
primary care, specialists, hospitals, home health care--
into an organized collective.
Oversee the quality of care of their patients by making
sure that their network is meeting performance
standards set by the CMS.
Look for ways to eliminate unnecessary spending in
order to lower the overall cost of healthcare for its
patients.
Supply that network with the technology to efficiently
communicate and coordinate patient care.

8. WHAT’S IN
IT FOR THE
ACO?
The more an ACO can reduce
costs, while maintaining quality
care and outcomes, the more
financially rewarding it can be for
everyone invested in the ACO.

9. ABOUT
TXCIN
North Texas Clinically
Integrated Network, Inc. (dba
TXCIN) is a non-profit ACO
that began in late 2014. A
small group of independent
physicians aligned to initiate
clinical integration and value-
based contracting. Partnering
with RevelationMD and its
state-of-the art information
platform, TXCIN has become
the largest independent
network of physicians in North
Texas.

10. Want
More?
http://www.insight-
txcin.org/post/why-
accountable-care-
organizations-succeed