On July 25, the Commonwealth Fund released a brief examining private sector accountable care organizations’ (ACO) experiences implementing shared payer-provider risk payment models.  Noting that the national health care reform law implements such a model under the Medicare Shared Savings Program, the brief posits that providers currently lack the necessary infrastructure to successfully assume and manage risk.  The authors conclude that providers need improved data and analytic capabilities to negotiate appropriate risk-sharing arrangements with payers and adequately manage risk for affected patient populations.

From the report:

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is serving as a catalyst in health care for new approaches to measuring performance and value, promoting wider adoption of health information technology (HIT), and developing models for delivering and paying for care more effectively and efficiently. In particular, the Medicare Shared Savings Program created by the legislation establishes financial incentives for accountable care organizations (ACOs) to provide coordinated, well-integrated care. Anticipation of the program has caused a flurry of activity among providers, purchasers, and payers.

The Commonwealth Fund. (2011). Promising payment reform: risk-sharing with accountable care organizations.  Delbanco, Suzanne F.