Accountable Care in Medicaid: Opportunities for Expansion and Impact

This project will increase the evidence base on what works in Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs) and identify policy opportunities to advance their adoption across states. Activities include a systematic literature review, summary, and analysis of the scope, features, and impact of Medicaid ACOs; and key informant interviews with leaders of state agencies and Medicaid-serving health systems from a sample of four states that have adopted ACOs in their Medicaid programs and four that have not. Dr. Rosenthal will synthesize findings from both activities into an issue brief that outlines: 1) what is known about the prevalence and impact of Medicaid ACOs; 2) key design features of existing models; 3) provider perspectives and participation; and 4) barriers and facilitators to broad participation and impact. She will also distill key policy findings in a blog post for Health Affairs Forefront and will prepare targeted materials for policymakers at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.