What is Physicians Accountable Care Solutions, LLC ("PACS")?
PACS is one of the largest Accountable Care Organizations ("ACO") in the United States, spanning more than 10 states and serving more than 120,000 beneficiaries. See our network below:
What is an Accountable Care Organization?
An ACO is a group of doctors and health care providers who voluntarily work together with Medicare to deliver high quality service to Medicare Fee-for-Service beneficiaries. An ACO is not a Medicare Advantage plan or an HMO.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS"): The Medicare Shared Savings Program ("MSSP") was established by section 3022 of the Affordable Care Act. The Shared Savings Program is a key component of the Medicare delivery system reform initiatives included in the Affordable Care Act and is a new approach to the delivery of health care. Congress created the Shared Savings Program to facilitate coordination and cooperation among providers to improve the quality of care for Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) beneficiaries and reduce unnecessary costs. Eligible providers, hospitals, and suppliers may participate in the Shared Savings Program by creating or participating in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO).
To fulfill the intent of the Affordable Care Act, the Shared Savings Program aims to improve beneficiary outcomes and increase value of care by providing:
- Better care for individuals;
- Better health for populations; and
- Lowering growth in expenditures
The Shared Savings Program will reward ACOs that lower their growth in health care costs while meeting performance standards on quality of care and putting patients first. Participation in an ACO is purely voluntary.
Your opinion matters!
The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) lets accountable care organizations participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program ACOs) meet their requirement to measure patients' experience of care.
The yearly CAHPS Survey for ACOs collects data through a survey mailing and a follow-up phone call to non-respondents to measure the seven required patient experience-of-care summary survey measures included in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. CAHPS ask patients about the interpersonal aspects of health care—aspects for which patients may be the best, if not the only source of information, and areas that patients have identified as being important to them.
PACS Mission
The Physicians Accountable Care Services (PACS) mission is to provide the highest quality care for our patients in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Our objective is to focus on the needs of each patient through evidence-based practices. We strive for better outcomes and care experiences coupled with lower per capita cost.
PACS History
PACS includes physicians in 10 states who have joined together to support our mission in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. PACS leadership includes physicians with extensive experience in care coordination, quality, patient experience and population health management. These primary care physicians and specialists are dedicated to sharing their experiences and insights in a manner that positively transforms the care for those we are privileged to serve. The PACS Board is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of care in a manner that ensures accountability on many levels.