The American College of Radiology (ACR) is providing strategies for radiologist participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs) in a white paper published in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), ACO demonstration projects and shared-savings programs for early adopters are mandated to begin in 2012. The development of these value-added services may present challenges to radiologists and their practices: They require fundamental changes in culture from a current focus on productivity based on number of examinations interpreted to productivity based on the ability to provide cost-effective care and outcomes, according to lead author Dr. Bibb Allen Jr.
Strategies for successful radiologist participation in ACOs combine the traditional service of providing timely and high-quality image interpretation with a new set of services based on providing additional value and cost-effectiveness to the imaging portfolio of the ACO, co-author Dr. David C. Levin said in a statement.
The ACR said it is developing a number of tools to assist members in this transition, and it will continue to advocate for radiologist compensation for the value-based services and shared savings.
