News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel

News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel
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While ACO Care Coordination Holds Promise for Improving Quality and Lowering Healthcare Costs, It’s Still a ‘Work in Progress’

Healthcare Experts Now Exploring New Care Coordination Strategies and Overcoming Gaps in Measuring Performance

For many healthcare professionals, the jury is still out as to whether accountable care organizations (ACOs) will prove effective at delivering the two important goals of improved patient outcomes at a lower overall cost of care over an extended period of time.

That is why close attention is being given to the experience of Medicare’s Pioneer ACOs, since they were among the first ACOs to begin delivering clinical services. In particular, physicians and hospital administrators want to learn useful lessons from the successes and setbacks of the different Pioneer ACOs.

By improving the coordination of care, accountable care organizations are expected to provide patients with better care while reducing healthcare costs. That’s why the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program is structured to pay ACOs financial incentives or impose penalties, depending on whether performance quality measures and healthcare spending targets are met. (more…)

Pioneering Oncology Group Earns Recognition as a Medical Home

Pathologists may be asked to do more consults by oncologists practicing in a medical home

Recently a pioneering oncology practice in Philadelphia was recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a medical home practice. Though the NCQA medical home program focuses on primary care, a few specialty practices have gained medical home recognition.

This is a milestone on the road to expanded use of the medical home care model. It is also an early warning to pathologists and clinical laboratory managers that other medical specialties may take steps to implement a medical home practice. It is believed that physicians practicing in this care model are likely to be more careful users of medical laboratory tests.

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