Becoming An ACO: 7 Steps To Better Population Health

In an accountable care organization (ACO), a network of providers shares the financial risk and responsibility for healthcare management and service delivery for a large group of patients.i Together, they work to find ways to improve population health and lower costs. For example, providers can better coordinate patient care to close gaps in care and avoid unnecessary tests and procedures.

But successfully taking on financial risk for healthcare quality requires careful consideration and planning. As you move forward, these seven steps can help you make better financial decisions and set your ACO on the path to success:

1. Determine how much risk your ACO can manage.
   Organizations new to managing risk should start with a small population of patients, such as self-insured employees or a smaller commercial contract. In addition, you should limit your financial exposure through shared savings models instead of full risk contracts. To take even these first steps, you need tools and processes to help you understand the characteristics of the population and negotiate and manage risk contracts in an informed manner.

Download this white paper below to discover all 7 steps.