Fewer than one-third of Accountable Care Organizations qualified for bonuses from Medicare in 2015.
And just 31 percent of ACOs generated savings of $466 million, according to a CMS announcement released Thursday.
CMS and Congress must “take swift and decisive action to solidify the foundation of the Medicare ACO program,” Clif Gaus, CEO of the National Association of ACOs, said in a response (.pdf) to the findings.
The savings were accumulated from 392 Medicare Shared Savings Program participants and 12 Pioneer ACO participants, according to CMS. Total savings grew 13 percent from 2014, when ACOs recognized $411 million in total savings.
The National Association of ACOS “was disappointed not to find stronger financial results that reflect the extensive financial and personal contributions invested by ACOs,” Clif Gaus told FierceHealthcare via email, adding, “the ACO program has strong, bipartisan support and is considered a model for the transition from fee-for-service to value-based payment.”
HENRY KOTULA 