University of Michigan Health System has saved more than $15 million on the cost of care over four years due to participation in an a demonstration project that is considered by many to be the precursor for accountable care organizations, showing the model can reap financial benefits, according to a U-M news release.
The savings are the result of the systems' participation in the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration Project. Ten systems participated in the project, serving 223,0203 Medicare fee-for-service patients. The project lasted five years, leaving one more year of data left to analyze.
As part of the project, U-M launched new initiatives and programs, including complex care coordination programs to reduce unnecessary treatments, readmissions, handoffs and wait times. The system also launched a medical home program to coordinate care and transitional care programs to assist patients with discharge information and follow-up activity.
U-M officials said that, due to the program's success, the system has already set up an ACO.
The other physician groups participating in the project are Billings Clinic in Billings, Mont.; Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic in Bedford, N.H.; The Everett Clinic in Everett, Wash.; Forsyth Medical Group in Winston-Salem, N.C.; Geisinger Clinic in Danville, Penn.; Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, WI; Middlesex Health System in Middletown, Conn.; Park Nicollet Health Services in St. Louis Park, Minn.; and St. John’s Health System in Springfield, Mo.
Read the U-M release on the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration Project.
Read more about the demonstration project:
- Insights From the Model for ACOs: Q&A With Harold Dash of Everett Clinic on the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration Project
The savings are the result of the systems' participation in the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration Project. Ten systems participated in the project, serving 223,0203 Medicare fee-for-service patients. The project lasted five years, leaving one more year of data left to analyze.
As part of the project, U-M launched new initiatives and programs, including complex care coordination programs to reduce unnecessary treatments, readmissions, handoffs and wait times. The system also launched a medical home program to coordinate care and transitional care programs to assist patients with discharge information and follow-up activity.
U-M officials said that, due to the program's success, the system has already set up an ACO.
The other physician groups participating in the project are Billings Clinic in Billings, Mont.; Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic in Bedford, N.H.; The Everett Clinic in Everett, Wash.; Forsyth Medical Group in Winston-Salem, N.C.; Geisinger Clinic in Danville, Penn.; Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, WI; Middlesex Health System in Middletown, Conn.; Park Nicollet Health Services in St. Louis Park, Minn.; and St. John’s Health System in Springfield, Mo.
Read the U-M release on the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration Project.
Read more about the demonstration project:
- Insights From the Model for ACOs: Q&A With Harold Dash of Everett Clinic on the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration Project