Community Healthcare Partners ACO, Inc. has announced participation in the Medicare Shared Saving Program (MSSP) as an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). Community Healthcare Partners ACO or CHP ACO is the clinically integrated provider network that unites more than 700 independent and employed physicians and other providers with Community Healthcare System’s hospitals: Community Hospital, Munster, St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center, Hobart.
As an MSSP ACO, CHP ACO doctors and other Community Healthcare System providers will work together with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to better coordinate care that suits the individual needs of patients. CHP ACO has been assigned more than 23,000 traditional Medicare beneficiaries who primarily live in Lake and Porter counties.
“The main objective of the ACO is to improve patient experience and overall health outcomes by providing high quality services and care at the right time in the right setting,” said Alan Kumar, MD, Chief Medical Officer, CHP ACO.
In this model of care, patients benefit from enhanced communications among their providers and better participation in the healthcare decision-making process. Participating providers, with their patient’s consent, agree to share health data to better coordinate care which can lead to better outcomes and streamline efficiencies.
The MSSP ACO emphasizes a patient-centered, preventative care approach with the goal of reducing hospital stays as well as emergency department visits.
This program operates under fee-for-service Medicare or “Original Medicare” and enables patients to seek care with any physician, hospital or healthcare provider that accepts Medicare.
“Our CHP quality and care navigation teams are collaborating with physician practices to ensure that for example, patients with chronic health conditions such as diabetes or congestive heart failure, receive full benefits from the type of coordinated care experience that a delivery model like an ACO provides,” Kumar said. “Transforming healthcare in this way will ultimately help improve quality of care in the most cost-effective manner, improve patient satisfaction and help us accomplish our mission of creating a healthier population in Northwest Indiana.”
For more information about the programs and services at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System: Community Hospital, Munster, St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center, Hobart, visit comhs.org.
