Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Development in California

Blue Shield of California has joined forces with Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) and Hill Physicians Medical Group Inc. in a pilot project described as the formation of an accountable care organization (ACO) for the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). The project represents an effort to cut costs by increasing integration and coordination and thereby improving the management of chronic disease and reducing hospital admissions. Blue Shield is considering expanding this pilot program statewide.

Monarch HealthCare, an Irvine -based Medical Group and Independent Physician Association (IPA), and HealthCare Partners, a Torrance-based Medical Group and IPA, are collaborating with Anthem Blue Cross in an ACO pilot project led by the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.