Area Doctors Group Proves That High-Quality Healthcare Can be Delivered at Lower Costs -- Saved $8 Million in Medicare Costs in 2016

ATHENS, Ga., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Doctors Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is nearing the end of its third year in the Medicare Shared Savings Program and has successfully reduced healthcare costs while improving the quality of care given to Medicare patients in Georgia, Ohio, and Indiana. In November, the 80+ physicians that make up Doctors ACO will each receive an average of $10,000 to $30,000 from Medicare for improving the care and reducing costs for Medicare patients.

ACOs like this one are made up of independent physicians who make a three-year commitment to help save Medicare by reducing overall costs. Healthcare providers who voluntarily participate in ACOs work hard to get an overall picture of their patient's complete health and provide more Preventive Services such as depression and falls screenings, early cancer detection, and Wellness Exams. This leads to increased and earlier detection of problems that can be handled in the Primary Care Clinic before they become serious problems or emergencies. Patients are seen frequently and should feel comfortable calling or walking in to see their Primary Care Physician rather than going to the Emergency Room for non-emergencies, even after hours! The goal is to provide coordinated, high-quality care to ensure that Medicare patients, especially the chronically ill, get the right care in the right place at the right time, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors.

When an ACO demonstrates they can offer high-quality care and more wisely spend health care dollars, it is able to share in the savings generated for Medicare. Doctors Accountable Care Organization (ACO) are one of the ACOs that shared savings. Doctors ACO providers were able to save Medicare $8.52 million in 2016 and nearly half of that savings will be distributed among ACO Providers and investors, helping local independent physicians keep their clinics afloat as healthcare inflates around them. Doctors Accountable Care Organization (ACO) also received a 100% score for Quality, making this network of providers among the greatest in the nation.

Athens Heart Center is partners with Doctors ACO and actively works together to develop new strategies to deliver high quality, low cost healthcare. If you would like more information on Doctors ACO or Athens Heart Center, please visit www.DoctorsACO.org or www.ahcspc.com.

SOURCE Doctors Accountable Care Organization