Park Nicollet named ACO to know

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – For the second year, Becker’s Hospital Review, a highly respected health care publication, is recognizing Park Nicollet as one of the Accountable Care Organizations to know. This recognition is based on factors including quality and cost. There are about 650 private and public ACO’s in the U.S. About 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries receive care from an ACO.

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 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Park Nicollet has participated in CMS ACO models since 2012. Since then, it has saved Medicare more than $6 million dollars. HealthPartners has another accountable care organization called the Northwest Metro Alliance. This partnership with Allina Health cares for HealthPartners and Allina patients in the Northwest metro area. It has also improved care and reduced costs. Read an executive summary.