What does ACO mean in PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a healthcare organization that works to coordinate patient care among different providers in order to improve health outcomes and reduce costs for patients.

ACOs work by coordinating and managing the delivery of healthcare services provided by many different providers, such as hospitals, doctors, and specialists. They are designed to ensure that each patient receives the highest quality care while reducing costs for the provider.

Both patients and providers benefit from ACOs. Patients receive higher quality care coordinated across multiple providers at a lower cost than if they received only one type of service from one provider. Providers benefit by being able to offer more comprehensive services within their organization without incurring high overhead costs associated with separate entities offering similar services.

Yes, evidence has shown that ACOs have been successful in improving patient health outcomes while also reducing costs for both patients and providers. Studies have found that ACOs are associated with a reduction in hospitalizations, fewer emergency department visits and lower total medical spending per person compared to other organizational models.

You can visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website or contact your local healthcare system to find out what type of accountable care organizations may be available in your area.