Accountability across the Continuum: The Participation of Postacute Care Providers in Accountable Care Organizations

Health Serv Res. 2016 Aug;51(4):1595-611. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12442. Epub 2016 Jan 22.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the extent to which accountable care organizations (ACOs) formally incorporate postacute care providers.

Data sources: The National Survey of ACOs (N = 269, response rate 66 percent).

Study design: We report statistics on ACOs' formal inclusion of postacute care providers and the organizational characteristics and clinical capabilities of ACOs that have postacute care.

Principal findings: Half of ACOs formally include at least one postacute service, with inclusion at higher rates in ACOs with commercial (64 percent) and Medicaid contracts (70 percent) compared to ACOs with Medicare contracts only (45 percent). ACOs that have a formal relationship with a postacute provider are more likely to have advanced transition management, end of life planning, readmission prevention, and care management capabilities.

Conclusions: Many ACOs have not formally engaged postacute care, which may leave room to improve service integration and care management.

Keywords: Accountable care organizations; health care reform; postacute care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Accountable Care Organizations / organization & administration*
  • Accountable Care Organizations / statistics & numerical data
  • Continuity of Patient Care / organization & administration*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Health Care Reform
  • Humans
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare / economics
  • Social Responsibility*
  • Subacute Care / organization & administration*
  • Subacute Care / statistics & numerical data
  • United States