Maryland-based Aledade, Inc. has announced a partnership with Qsource to help independent primary care physicians in Tennessee form and operate an Accountable Care Organization.
Aledade partners with independent doctors to create and run ACOs, networks of physicians who band together to deliver coordinated care to patients. They operate under a payment structure that rewards positive health outcomes for patients, instead of the volume of health care services delivered.
"For the first time in history, we have the technological capability and the financial incentives for primary care doctors to practice medicine the way they’ve always wanted,” said Dr. Farzad Mostashari, CEO and co-founder of Aledade. "Family physicians have a unique connection with their patients – they are best positioned to lead the transformation towards value-based health care, and our ACO will empower them to do so. Aledade is excited to work with Qsource in offering physicians the tools needed to deliver the highest quality personalized care to Tennesseans."
Aledade and Qsource will work with physicians across Tennessee to build one of the state’s first Medicare ACO, led completely by independent primary care doctors. Aledade ACOs focus on delivering the highest-quality care to patients, with an emphasis on preventative care, high-value referral networks, customized technology, and unmatched analysis of patient claims and electronic health record data to identify patients who need help before serious medical problems arise, said officials. Aledade’s partnership with Qsource will enable the new ACO to provide in-person support for physicians throughout the entire setup and operation of the new organization.
Aledade and Qsource will recruit a core group of primary care practices to lead the ACO. Initial recruitment will focus on the Chattanooga, Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis metro areas, expanding to other parts of the state during the next several months. The Tennessee-based ACO will launch in January.
“We are honored to a part of this initiative and prepare providers for care coordination and payment reform,” said Dawn FitzGerald, Qsource CEO. “For years, Qsource has assisted providers with achievement in numerous practice transformation initiatives, such as Meaningful Use and medical home. Adding ACO assistance for our participating practices is a natural progression to ensure providers are prepared for the future of health care delivery.”
Qsource will serve as primary contact for physician offices and assist in transforming practices to improve quality of care and generate shared savings. Qsource will provide the “boots on the ground” assistance developing systems and workaflows that support care coordination and ensuring providers are able to enjoy the incentives that come from participation in a shared savings program, said officials.
Aledade will also bring a regulatory expertise to Tennessee physician practices, ensuring all participating doctors meet necessary ACO and meaningful use standards. Internally, the ACO will establish quality benchmarks and a governing board to develop and share best practices for patient outreach, engagement, and treatment.