This policy brief reports that Medicare ACOs currently operate in 17.5% of all U.S. non-metropolitan counties, including Medicare ACOs operating exclusively in non-metropolitan counties. Furthermore, Medicare ACOs operate in non-metropolitan counties in every U.S. Census Region. The implications for rural providers are significant. ACO participants (principally hospitals and physicians) and their competitors can no longer rely exclusively on a business model that prioritizes service volume as an operational priority. Instead, they must direct attention and resources to increasing clinical quality, improving patient experience, and lowering the cost of care.
Contact Information:
Keith J. Mueller, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.3831
keith-mueller@uiowa.edu
