CMS releases care coordination toolkit for Medicare ACOs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a toolkit highlighting innovative strategies that Medicare accountable care organizations use to coordinate and manage care for their diverse beneficiary populations. “Approaches to care coordination include both system-wide initiatives and targeted interventions that support individuals with chronic conditions or recent acute care needs,” the toolkit notes. “Some ACOs focus on facilitating the exchange of data between primary care providers and emergency departments, whereas others establish networks of post-acute care partners to support their mission of improving the quality and effectiveness of care. Others developed initiatives that focus on managing the care of individual beneficiaries, such as launching a home visit program or using information technology to streamline referrals to community organizations.”