Earned savings of ACOs in Medicare Shared Savings Program 2012-2021
ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who voluntarily collaborating to achieve coordinated enhanced quality of care, reduced costs, and improved health outcomes of a designated patient population. ACOs were introduced as part of the Affordable Care Act to shift the U.S. health system from volume-based care (fee-for-service) to value-based care (alternative payment models). When ACOs participating in MSSP spend less than their target (i.e. saves money for Medicare), they receive a share of the savings, that is if they also pass certain quality measures such as patient/caregiver experience, patient safety etc.