Park Nicollet named 110 ACO’s to know

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Becker’s Hospital Review, a highly respected health care publication, has named Park Nicollet one of the 110 Accountable Care Organizations to know. This recognition is based on quality, cost, and other factors. There are about 900 private and public ACO’s in the U.S.

An ACO is a group of doctors, hospitals, clinics and other care givers who join together to care for patients. The goal is to provide patients with the best care at the lowest cost. When ACOs deliver high-quality care and use health care dollars more wisely, members share in the savings earned.

In 2011, CMS selected Park Nicollet to be one of the first ACO’s in the nation. At the time, Park Nicollet was a Pioneer ACO. The Pioneer ACO Model supports organizations that have experience in providing more coordinated care to their beneficiaries. The Park Nicollet ACO saved Medicare millions of dollars.

Last year, Park Nicollet moved to the Next Generation ACO Model. This initiative allows providers and beneficiaries greater opportunities to coordinate care. It also provides predictable financial targets.

HealthPartners has another accountable care organization called the Northwest Metro Alliance. This partnership with Allina Health cares for 300,000 HealthPartners and Allina patients in the Northwest metro area.