7 Recently Formed ACOs

Molly Gamble (Twitter) -
The following accountable care organizations or accountable care programs were announced within the past two months, beginning with the most recent.


1. Aurora Launches Accountable Care Program for Wisconsin Employers
Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care is promising regional employers savings if they offer plans to employees that utilize only Aurora hospitals, physicians and services. Aurora's Accountable Care Network puts a cap on how much the plan's costs increase annually, which guarantees that an employer's cost will rise at a slower rate than the overall market.

2. Oregon Health Authority Names First 11 Inaugural Coordinated Care Organizations
The Oregon Health Authority tentatively certified 11 groups for the state's Medicaid coordinated care program, part of an overhaul of the Oregon Health Plan. The coordinated care organizations will integrate care for Medicaid patients in an effort to improve care and lower costs.

3. Cigna Launches Accountable Care Program in New Hampshire
Health insurer Cigna is partnering with the Granite Healthcare Network, a partnership of five non-profit hospitals in New Hampshire, to create a commercial accountable care program. The Cigna-Granite Healthcare accountable care model is believed to be the largest commercial ACO in New Hampshire.

4. St. Francis Hospital, Connecticare Form 'Mini ACO' for Hip and Knee Surgery
The Joint Replacement Institute of Hartford, Conn.-based St. Francis Hospital is teaming up with Farmington, Conn-based insurer Connecticare to form a collaborative care pact aimed at coordinating treatment for total hip and knee replacement surgeries. The hospital and insurer are calling the program the 'Step Ahead Plan.'

5. Baptist Health South Florida, Florida Blue and Oncology Group Form ACO
Coral Gables, Fla.-based Baptist Health South Florida is teaming up with the state's largest health insurer Florida Blue and Miami-based oncology group Advanced Medical Specialties to form an accountable care organization. The commercial ACO partnership between the hospital system, payor and physician group represents a first for Florida. The ACO will  focus specifically on cancer treatment.

6. Iowa Health System, Wellmark Partner to Create Iowa's First Commercial ACO
Iowa Health System, based in Des Moines, Iowa, and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa announced an agreement to bring accountable care organization to four major markets in Iowa. This is the first commercial ACO in that state.

7. BCBS of Western New York and Kaleida Partner to Form Integrated Care Model

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and Kaleida Health of Buffalo, N.Y., announced plans to partner and form an integrated care model, the first of its kind in the Buffalo region. The model includes a network of Western New York physicians partnering with health system Kaleida and health insurer BCBS to create a physician-led organization, essentially acting as a commercial ACO.

More Articles on ACOs:

Patient-Centeredness Crucial to ACO Success
Trends in ACO Development: Thoughts from Healthcare Leaders
Michael Dukakis: The Problem is Not Fee for Service; ACOs Not the Solution


Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.