PHOENIX (Oct. 3, 2023) — For the third year in a row, Banner Network Colorado (BNC) providers delivered exceptional patient care for its more than 6,100 Medicare Fee-For-Service beneficiaries while saving Medicare $7.3 million. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Services recently released its performance data for Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACOs for performance year 2022.
BNC received a quality score of 91.23% earning high quality scores on performance measures that include diabetes, blood pressure control, breast cancer screening and prevention of cardiovascular disease, among others. The average quality score for all ACO’s is 81.5%, putting BNC’s score in the top 5% compared to all ACOs nationally.
The $7.3 million of gross savings to Medicare resulted in a shared savings payment of $3.6 million to BNC for its participating providers who support care for these Medicare beneficiaries. The shared funds help support the employment of additional in-office resources such as nurses, medical assistants and pharmacists which helps improve the care being delivered to these patients.“These outstanding results are a testament to the exceptional quality of care our physicians provide to our beneficiaries every year,”said Ed Clarke, MD, CMO for Banner Plans and Networks. “We have a team of dedicated health care professionals who are not only looking for ways to help reduce costs, but are always focused on the health and well-being of those we service in our local communities.”
A market-based solution to fragmented and costly care, ACOs empower local physicians, hospitalists and other providers to work together and take responsibility for improving quality, enhancing patient experience and keeping care affordable. This CMS program creates incentives for ACOs to invest in transforming care by allowing them to share in savings they generate after meeting defined quality and cost goals.
To achieve these results, primary care practices and providers within BNC strive to increase the number of Medicare beneficiaries taking advantage of annual wellness visits, including recommended screenings and preventive care. The ACO also focuses on ensuring smooth patient transitions between care settings, such as from the hospital to home.
Banner Network Colorado (BNC) is a provider network that includes more than 300 primary care providers, specialists and 3 Banner hospitals in Larimer and Weld counties in Northern Colorado’s Front Range. These providers make a commitment to work closely together to coordinate all aspects of a patient’s care, to enhance the patient experience and to improve outcomes.
###
For further information contact us at: [email protected]