Many accountable care organizations are interested in managing drug costs and utilization, but are focused on achieving other metrics, according to Atlantic Information Services' ACO Business News.
Just 9 percent of ACOs are organized to notify physicians when patients fill a prescription, Leigh Ann Bruhn, a director at Washington, D.C.-based Avalere Health, told ABN.
Drug costs are not part of the Medicare Shared Savings Program spending calculations and many Medicare ACOs do not have the data capabilities to manage pharmaceutical spending, according to the report.
Some major pharmaceutical companies have established ACO partnerships, albeit limited partnerships. CVS Health is partnered with a total of 12 ACOs, but the partnerships cover only beneficiaries in the CVS SilverScript Medicare Drug Prescription Plan. Walgreens recently ended partnerships with two MSSP ACOs, but still has a contract with one other Medicare ACO.
A few larger ACOs have considered launching in-house pharmacies, according to Ms. Bruhn.
More articles on ACOs:
Walgreens severs ties with two of three MSSP ACOs
Humana, United Hospital System enter accountable care partnership