MetroHealth Care Partners ACO Receives Medicare Shared Savings

The MetroHealth System’s Accountable Care Organization (ACO), MetroHealth Care Partners, has earned significant shared savings as part of the 2016 Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the performance results today.

In the 2016 performance year, MetroHealth Care Partners delivered cost control at 8.1 percent below CMS’ benchmark. It also achieved a quality score of 96 percent. As a result, CMS saved $9.1 million and MetroHealth received $4.3 million as its share of the savings.

Medicare ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers who come together voluntarily to provide coordinated care to their Medicare patients. The goal is to ensure that patients, especially the chronically ill, get the right care at the right time while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors. When an ACO exceeds quality and financial thresholds set up by CMS, it is able to share in the savings generated for Medicare. These thresholds demonstrate achievement of high-quality care and wiser spending of health care dollars.

MetroHealth’s Population Health Innovation Institute led the cost savings and quality improvement initiatives, which resulted in the shared savings. The Institute focuses on process, including care coordination for every single patient enrolled in the ACO. The Institute develops programs that help people stay healthy and navigate through the health system easier.

“The important message here is that we are ensuring these Medicare patients in Cuyahoga County are receiving the care they need when they need it,” said Akram Boutros, MD, FACHE, president and CEO of MetroHealth. “And, on top of that, MetroHealth is saving taxpayers millions of dollars by focusing on maintaining good health and not just treating illness. That’s the good that comes from transforming health care delivery.”

The MetroHealth System began MetroHealth Care Partners in January 2014. ACOs must meet quality standards to ensure that savings are achieved through improving care coordination and providing care that is appropriate, safe, and timely. CMS evaluates ACO quality performance using 34 quality measures, which include patient and caregiver experience, care coordination and patient safety, appropriate use of preventive health service, and improved care for at-risk populations.