River Health ACO, an accountable care organization formed by Harrisburg, Pa.-based PinnacleHealth System, Susquehanna Health in Williamsport, Pa., and four health centers and physician groups, has applied to join the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
River Health ACO initially formed in April this year to improve healthcare costs, quality and patient experience.
"By joining together, these leading providers of care are creating a new system of seamlessly providing high quality care in an even more efficient and coordinated matter. We have a shared vision of being central Pennsylvania's leading provider of nationally recognized health services with personalized care," Steve Johnson, president and CEO of Susquehanna Health, said in the news release.
"The heart of the MSSP program makes sense — putting the patient at the center of care," Michael Young, PinnacleHealth's president and CEO, said in the release.
If River Health ACO is accepted into the shared savings program, its first performance period would begin in January 2014.
In addition to PinnacleHealth and Susquehanna Health, the ACO includes Family Practice Center, a multispecialty physician group based in Shamokin Dam, Pa.; Annville (Pa.) Family Medicine, a group with eight physicians; Susquehanna Community Health & Dental Center, a federally qualified health center in Williamsburg (Pa.); and Wellsboro, Pa.-based Laurel Health Centers.
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