Accountability across the Continuum: The Participation of Postacute Care Providers in Accountable Care Organizations

Objective To examine the extent to which accountable care organizations ( ACO s) formally incorporate postacute care providers. Data Sources The National Survey of ACO s ( N = 269, response rate 66 percent). Study Design We report statistics on ACO s' formal inclusion of postacute care providers and the organizational characteristics and clinical capabilities of ACO s that have postacute care. Principal Findings Half of ACO s formally include at least one postacute service, with inclusion at higher rates in ACO s with commercial (64 percent) and Medicaid contracts (70 percent) compared to ACO s with Medicare contracts only (45 percent). ACO s that have a formal relationship with a postacute provider are more likely to have advanced transition management, end of life planning, readmission prevention, and care management capabilities. Conclusions Many ACO s have not formally engaged postacute care, which may leave room to improve service integration and care management.