Leavitt Partners’ Center for ACO Intelligence, which tracks national and regional trends related to ACOs and other emerging care delivery systems, released a white paper Wednesday on the status of ACOs following federal health reform.

Leaders at Leavitt Partners’ Center said the paper, entitled "Growth and Dispersion of Accountable Care Organizations," is the first report of its kind regarding the types and locations of ACOs.

The report provides data-driven insights into the evolution of ACOs following federal health reform and the recent announcement of the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Data and analysis on the growth and national dispersion trends of more than 160 ACO or ACO-like organizations are highlighted.

[See also: ACOs don't have to be daunting, according to experts .]

Leavitt Partners’ officials said the ongoing tracking of ACOs provides valuable information to a wide variety of interested parties. The growth and dispersion of ACOs holds implications for providers, payors, vendors and the pharmacy industry.

“A quiet scramble is clearly underway,” said Andrew Croshaw, managing director at Leavitt Partners and director of the Leavitt Partners Center for ACO Intelligence.“In certain markets, competition to establish leadership is already emerging.”

Among the findings presented in the white paper are observations of ACO market concentrations, both by state and hospital referral region, as well the foundational models behind the organizations, be they hospital systems, health plans, or physician groups.

“There is a tremendous amount of activity in the ACO arena,” said Wayne Sensor, partner at Leavitt Partners and former CEO of Alegent Health Care.“Health care leadership is hungry for a deeper understanding of where ACOs are and where they are headed.”

The free report is available at LeavittPartners.com.
 

[See also: Final rule eases ACO regulations, lifts EHR requirements.]

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