WHAT IS AN ACO?
Accountable Care Organization:
Delivering Collective High-Quality Care
An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a group of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who voluntarily deliver coordinated, high-quality care to the patients they serve.
These physicians communicate with one another and partner with their patients in making healthcare decisions. They share information and use Electronic Health Records (EHRs), so fewer repeated medical tests will save time on paperwork and provide more efficient care. This coordinated care helps ensure that patients, including those with chronic illnesses, get the proper care at the right time to avoid unnecessary duplication of services and prevent medical errors.
When a Medicare ACO succeeds in delivering high-quality care and spending health care dollars more wisely, it will share in the savings it achieves for the Medicare program.