04/16/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/16/2024 12:03
CBO summarizes recent research findings about Medicare accountable care organizations and the factors that have contributed to or limited their ability to achieve net budgetary savings for the Medicare program.
This Congressional Budget Office report summarizes recent research findings about Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) and the factors that have contributed to or limited their ability to achieve net budgetary savings for the Medicare program. ACOs are groups of providers, such as physicians and hospitals, that assume responsibility for the quality and cost of care for an assigned group of patients. Providers participate in Medicare ACO programs voluntarily. CBO found the following:
Researchers and outside experts have suggested various policy approaches that could increase the savings that ACOs generate for the Medicare program. Those approaches include increasing providers' incentives to participate in ACO models, increasing their incentives to reduce spending, and increasing beneficiaries' awareness of and engagement with ACO models. CBO has not assessed the effects of those policy approaches or determined their net budgetary impact.