Physician Health Partners, the only approved Pioneer Accountable Care Organization in Colorado, expects the hundreds of physicians who treat more than 27,000 Medicare patients per month could see pay increases due to efficient care and meeting quality measures, according to a Denver Post report.
Colorado Medicare patients cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per year to treat, and the bonuses could reach into the millions if quality and preventive care measures are reached. If ACOs meet the quality measures and save up to 2.7 percent in Medicare expenditures, the organizations can earn a little less than half of that back as a bonus, said PHP President Ken Nielsen in the report.
However, it's anticipated that many physicians will use the increased payments to hire more staff members and allocate fewer appointments to focus on more individualized care for patients.
Colorado Medicare patients cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per year to treat, and the bonuses could reach into the millions if quality and preventive care measures are reached. If ACOs meet the quality measures and save up to 2.7 percent in Medicare expenditures, the organizations can earn a little less than half of that back as a bonus, said PHP President Ken Nielsen in the report.
However, it's anticipated that many physicians will use the increased payments to hire more staff members and allocate fewer appointments to focus on more individualized care for patients.
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