Dive Brief:
- While Medicaid ACOs are gaining traction, they will need to generate savings and overcome challenges if they are to succeed long-term, according to a recent report from Leavitt Partners.
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The primary reasons states are creating Medicaid ACOs is to address mounting economic pressures and coordinate care across populations, the report says.
- More states have gotten involved due to growing concern the traditional Medicaid managed care model can no longer achieve savings or meaningfully improve population health.
Dive Insight:
The report identifies four specific areas states require the most assistance in rolling out successful ACOs.
- Deploying population health analytics to improve care: Forming common metrics would allow stakeholders to better track performance, create accountability and properly assign performance-based payment.
- Integrating behavioral health: Siloed behavioral health services create difficulty sharing data.
- Integrating long-term services and supports: To achieve meaningful wellness and cost-savings, states will require post-acute and long-term services and supports.
- Addressing individuals enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare: states must address coordination of care for this high-cost group, as well as how to distribute shared savings between state Medicaid agencies and Medicare.
"As states establish clear objectives, incentivize providers to develop core capabilities, promote collaboration across the care continuum and exercise strong leadership, they can enhance their prospects for long-term success," the report concludes.