The Southwestern Health Resources accountable care organization saved $37 million in 2018, making it the number one organization participating in the CMS Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model. Since 2017, SWHR has saved $67 million since joining the model.
SWHR is one of 50 ACOs who participated in Medicare’s highest risk model in 2018, which saved more than $240 million overall for Medicare. SWHR manages care for 79,000 Medicare beneficiaries and is the fourth largest in the nation. It was responsible for 15 percent of the overall savings in the model. CMS sets financial targets for healthcare systems and allows systems to collaborate in order to provide quality care and beat those financial targets.
“These successful results reaffirm the effectiveness of our clinically integrated network of academic and community physicians and hospitals and doctors,” said Dr. Andrew Ziskind, Senior Executive Officer of Southwestern Health Resources via release. “Being ranked No. 1 in the nation for second year in a row further demonstrates the success of the physician-driven strategies SWHR has designed to build a stronger system of care. While we’ve achieved significant savings, we also have significantly improved the quality of care delivered to patients.”
SWHR earned the same distinction last year, when they saved $30 million.
