Medicaid ACOs: Innovation Follows the Brave

Applying the ACO framework to Medicaid runs head on into a challenge: the disproportionate impact of socioeconomic factors on health in the Medicaid population. Poor health outcomes among low-income populations are often exacerbated by unstable employment and housing, transportation difficulties, and lack of access to nutritious food. Add in a high prevalence of mental illness and substance abuse, then layer it all over cultural, language, and health literacy barriers. It doesn’t take long to realize that the doorway to good health lies not only at the doctor’s office but through a maze of unmet social needs.

Read more at ManagedCareMag.com

ACO News is a feature of the Medicaid Accountable Care Organization Resource Center, an online collection of tools designed to help Medicaid agencies develop and launch accountable care organizations.