Unlike many large ACOs that are formed simply for a volume play, the Stratum Med ACO is the first of its kind to be founded by physician-led medical groups with strong existing ties and a history of collaboration.
Many of Stratum’s key members have come together to form the Stratum Med ACO, one of the largest MSSP ACOs in the country, in partnership with Caravan Health. Inaugural participants range from independent midsize physician groups to large integrated health systems throughout multiple states and include: Carle, Christie Clinic, Confluence Health, Hutchinson Clinic, Jefferson City Medical Group, McFarland Clinic, and The Iowa Clinic.
The collaborative Stratum Med ACO will strengthen the connection between these physician-driven organizations while providing a platform to continue success in value-based payment. They will earn a greater percent of shared savings while taking more accountability for the cost of their patient care as they move into risk.
Caravan Health’s methodology brings together independent community health systems to form larger ACOs that can overcome random statistical variation, which can skew the financial results of ACOs, even if they are doing the hard work of practice transformation. By joining together into collaborative ACOs, the independent providers will gain the benefits of scale to confidently move into risk-based payment while maintaining their autonomy.
Early in 2019, Caravan Health launched the largest Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO to date with more than 220,000 lives. This new Pathways to Success ACO builds on that foundation and helps Caravan Health partners bring better care to over 625,000 attributed Medicare beneficiaries. Caravan-affiliated ACOs lead the nation in quality and savings. In 2017, Caravan ACOs saved Medicare $54 million and achieved an average of 94 percent in quality.