Partners for Kids, an Ohio-based pediatric accountable care organization, successfully demonstrated cost savings while maintaining the quality of care, according to a study published in Pediatrics.
The ACO was created through a partnership between Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Children's Hospital and community physician groups. It serves more than 300,000 children in the Medicaid program.
Researchers compared PFK's cost of care between Jan. 2008 and Dec. 2013 to overall reported costs of Medicaid in Ohio. The study also examined quality metrics including preventable complications and hospitalizations, neonatal intensive care days, emergency department visits due to asthma, diabetes management and check-ups for children between three and six years old, according to the report.
The study showed monthly membership costs grew less at PFK than in managed care and Medicaid fee-for-service delivery systems. Monthly membership grew $2.40 per year at PFK between 2008 and 2013, compared to $6.47 per year growth for managed care and $16.15 per year growth for Medicaid fee-for-service, according to the report.
The ACO also reported shorter patient stays in the NICU, reduced ER visits for asthma and increased well-child visits for children between three and six years old. The quality of diabetes care management declined slightly, according to the report.
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