CMS releases Beneficiary Engagement Toolkit and series of ACO Case Studies

CMS releases Beneficiary Engagement Toolkit and series of ACO Case Studies

CMS is announcing the release of a new toolkit highlighting strategies used by accountable care organizations (ACOs) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) seamless care organizations (ESCOs) to engage beneficiaries. Specifically, the toolkit explores how ACOs and ESCOs:

• Engage beneficiaries in ACO governance,
• Elicit beneficiary and family feedback,
• Support beneficiaries in self-care management,
• Enhance beneficiary communication in the clinical setting, and
• Communicate with beneficiaries about the ACO as a value-based care organization.

The beneficiary engagement toolkit is part of a broader series of toolkits designed to educate the public about the strategies ACOs use to provide value-based care while also providing actionable ideas to current and prospective ACOs to help them improve or begin operations. CMS released the first toolkit on care coordination in April 2019.

To bring further attention to innovative ACO strategies, CMS is releasing three new case studies focused on:

• Partnerships with skilled nursing facilities (Southwestern Health Resources Accountable
  Care Network)
• Advanced care planning (Integra Community Care Network)
• Provider engagement (Silver State ACO)

Each case study describes how an ACO implemented a program or initiative as well as any results and lessons learned. Through these new case studies, and the 10 previously-published case studies, CMS seeks to highlight innovative strategies that have been used by ACOs to improve care delivery.

For more information on the toolkits and case studies, including the previously-released care coordination toolkit, please visit the ACO General Information web page.