ACO chief: Controlling 'super-utilizers' one of the keys to success

Using data analytics to identify "super-utilizers" within a healthcare system is one of the key ways for an accountable care organization to control costs. That's one of the conclusions of Sheila Fusé, CEO of Primary Partners, LLC. Her organization is comprised of 40 independent practices and 65 provider organizations and performed under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' advanced payment model program. The ACO used social workers to better coordinate the care of super-utilizers and helped to cut ER usage that leads to hospital admission by 22 percent. However, it missed other clinical goals and did not receive any financial incentives as a result. >> Read the full article at FierceHealthcare