Colorado Medicaid ACO Reports Better Patient Outcomes, Lower Cost of Care

Colorado Medicaid's Accountable Care Collaborative, established in May 2011, reported reduced hospital readmissions and improved patient outcomes in its November agency report.

As of June 2012, the ACC had 132,227 enrolled patients, which is about 20 percent of the state's Medicaid beneficiaries, according to a Health Policy Solutions report. Here are the key performance indicators reported by the ACC.

Total cost of care

The program is estimated to save Colorado between $9 million and $30 million for 2011-2012. When the range of savings is combined with more evidence on utilization patterns and cost avoidance for certain services, the report estimated that the program could save approximately $20 million in one year.

Inpatient hospital readmissions

Compared to non-enrolled Medicaid patients, ACC members had an 8.6 percent reduction in hospital readmissions.

Emergency room utilization

Overall, ER utilization increased by an aggregate 1 percent for all of Colorado's Medicaid patients. However, ACC members' utilization increased just .23 percent compared to an increase of 1.47 percent for non-enrolled patients.

High-cost imaging services

Utilization rates of high-cost imaging services for ACC enrollees decreased 3.3 percent more than non-enrolled patients.

Chronic disease management

The ACC program reduced the rates of preventable hospitalizations and readmissions for beneficiaries with asthma and with diabetes.

More Articles on Accountable Care Organizations:

Will ACOs Repeat the Mistakes of Integrated Delivery Networks in the 1990s?
Primary Care Physician ACO Participation Expected to Grow Rapidly
Study: Health Plans Embracing ACO Model

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