Wellmark reports improved quality and cost savings from its Accountable Care Organizations arrangements

The five initial Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s ACO Shared Savings model have improved their quality scores by over 35 percent and saved more than $12 million during the first two years, Wellmark announced today. The positive results mean that each of the initial five participating ACOs will receive an incentive payment from Wellmark for achieving their performance goals.

The five ACOs participating in 2013, which represent more than 358,000 members, achieved savings through reducing hospital admissions by nearly 12 percent, readmissions by 7 percent and emergency department visits by nearly 11 percent.