Physician-run ACO saves $22M

One accountable care organization agreement between Medicare and a group of Florida doctors has saved $22 million in one year, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The Palm Beach ACO is run by 240 physicians, 75 percent of whom are solo practitioners, and cares for about 36,000 patients. Perhaps the biggest distinguishing driver for the ACO is its use of Medicare-provided data. "The data (analysis) is so important, much more important than we thought," Lenny Sukienik, the group's medical director, told AAFP. "It makes a huge difference in how we treat patients." One unusual aspect of this particular ACO is that participating doctors aren't required to make any changes like extending office hours or hiring additional staff. Article