CMS has detailed better care quality with Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)

“Many of these ACOs are demonstrating that they can deliver a higher level of coordinated care that leads to healthier people and smarter spending,” said CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt in a press release that accompanied the detailed report on ACO performance in 2014.

Among the Pioneer ACOs, the report found “strong improvement” on three significant measures from 2013 to 2014:

• “Medication reconciliation” grew  to  84 percent from 70 percent.
• “Screening for clinical depression and follow-up plan” jumped  to 60 percent from 50 percent.
• “Qualification for an electronic health record incentive payment” rose to 86 from 77 percent