Update: How Many ACOs Are There?

Leavitt Partners reports it was tracking 511 accountable care organizations as of November 2013. Add to that 123 new ACOs announced by Medicare in December, and the ACO count climbs to 634.

Of the 511 ACOs tracked by Leavitt Partners, 231 had government contracts, 207 had commercial contracts, 56 had both government and commercial contracts, and the remaining 17 had not yet released contract details. CMS reports that over half of its new ACOs were physician-led groups that serve less than 10,000 beneficiaries.

Sources:

Muhlestein D and others. Geographic distribution of ACO covered lives. Leavitt Partners, Dec. 2013. http://leavittpartners.com/aco-publications/ [free registration required to download]

More partnerships between doctors and hospitals strengthen coordinated care for Medicare beneficiaries. Press Release, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dec. 23, 2013. http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/sharedsavingsprogram/Downloads/2014-ACO-Contacts-Directory.pdf

Medicare Shared Savings Program: accountable care organizations start date: Jan. 1, 2014. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dec. 23, 2013. http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-Releases/2013-Press-Releases-Items/2013-12-23.html

Posted by AHA Resource Center (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org