The American Nurses Association has offered CMS feedback on accountable care organizations, saying nurses should be a priority in the new model, according to the ANA letter to CMS.
In the letter, the ANA offered the following recommendations to CMS:
• CMS should recognize the central role that care coordination plays in ACOs and the integral contributions of RNs to patient care coordination.
• Care coordination should be recognized with full and adequate compensation.
• Quality should be evaluated in part by measuring care coordination and nursing-sensitive indicators.
• ACOs should have equal representation of physicians, nurses and other health professionals.
• Eligibility requirements should be written so small, solo and nurse-led practices are able to participate.
• ACOs should respect patient choice of provider and shared decision-making.
Read the entire ANA letter to CMS offering its feedback on ACOs.
Read more ACO feedback from other healthcare organizations:
–Premier Offers ACO Recommendations to CMS
–15 Suggestions for Implementing ACOs from New AHA Letter to CMS
–Federation of American Hospitals Objects to NCQA Draft Criteria for ACOs
