Accountable Care Organization in Omaha.
A modern health network needs to take responsibility for both the structure and finances that support patients’ long-term health and safety. Think is ranked #8 nationally and #1 in Nebraska for quality and care. We are an established Accountable Care Organization (ACO).
What is an Accountable Care Organization, ACO?
An ACO (Accountable Care Organization) is a network of doctors and specialists who work together to share both the medical and financial responsibility for their patients by providing high-quality care and saving on costs. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) introduced ACOs in response to rising healthcare spending for the Baby Boomer generation.
Simply put, an ACO must meet strict quality standards for both care and cost savings for patients. When these standards are met, CMS gives the ACO a shared saving payment, which is a percentage of the total saving.
Unlike fee-for-service programs, shared savings programs encourage doctors to refer patients to high-quality providers with the least expensive service, shared savings only happens if important quality measures are met. Each patient in an ACO is assessed individually, and their quality of care and costs are measured against their personal risk score.
The structural metrics of an Accredited ACO.
There are five key pillars for achieving shared savings: Risk, Attribution, Cost, Utilization, and Quality. For ThinkACO, LLC to save money, the actual total cost of care must be less than the budgeted total cost. The budgeted cost is based on the populations. Risk relates to the overall health of the patients, higher risk means a higher budget. Attribution is the number of patients in the contract, and it can greatly increase shared savings. The actual total cost is based on Cost and Utilization. Cost is simply how much the care costs and whether it was effective. Utilization is about how much and what kind of services are used for a patient’s health.
Risk
Measures patient complexity via diagnostic history; a higher medical risk adjusts the baseline benchmark budget upward to match clinical needs.
Attribution
Defines the exact patient volume dynamically assigned to the contract based on primary care utilization, scaling potential shared savings.
Cost
Reflects the net financial expenditure of delivered medical services.
Utilization
Tracks the frequency, type, and necessity of clinical services deployed, focusing on shifting care from expensive ERs to primary care.
Quality
Evaluates provider adherence to evidence-based preventive metrics and screening registries, serving as the gateway to secure shared savings.
Why an ACO quality framework protects your medical timeline.
When your healthcare providers operate within an Accountable Care Organization, your medical care transitions from a reactive tracking model into a proactive strategy. For a patient navigating complex, multi-systemic conditions, an ACO framework functions as an active clinical safeguard. It ensures that your primary care physician, laboratory technicians, advanced imaging radiologists, and clinical pharmacists are never working in isolated silos.At think, our shared database allows your entire care circle to view your medical updates, vital trends, and specialist notes instantly. This real-time transparency prevents duplicate laboratory draws, stops conflicting prescription modifications, and shortens the time required to resolve complex diagnostic questions. By focusing completely on preventative care and quality outcomes, our ACO protects your vital organs from chronic stress, controls your healthcare expenses, and supports your long-term quality of life.
An Outstanding Model for Whole Person Health
When think started, the ACO model matched our values and helped solve many problems we saw in traditional healthcare. By combining the ACO model with our focus on coordinated care, we create a supportive environment for patients with multiple chronic illnesses.
Think Whole Person Healthcare is always working to grow its services to improve both overall patient outcomes and patient satisfaction. One big step in this effort is the creation of Think Healthcare ACO, LLC, an Accountable Care Organization. We believe everyone benefits from high-quality healthcare at lower costs. Changes in Medicare reimbursement push us to keep improving our service and control costs. We also look for specialists who share our Whole Person approach to join Think Whole Person Healthcare.
Do you have questions regarding our ACO model?
If you are a Medicare beneficiary or an individual navigating complex health challenges, and you want to transition your care to an accredited, quality-driven Accountable Care Organization, our team is ready to coordinate your care and answer any questions. Complete the inquiry form below to connect with our team.
