UT Health San Antonio has officially established an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), the UT Health San Antonio Regional Physician Network, and will soon submit an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The UT Health San Antonio Regional Physician Network will officially begin operating on Jan. 1, 2019.
An ACO is a group of physicians and other health care providers who partner together to create a healthier community through value-based care. UT Health San Antonio’s leadership has recognized that it has an opportunity and obligation to lead the transformation of health care delivery directed towards improving health outcomes in South Texas’ diverse community. We have a tradition of a physician-led organization that offers excellence in providing outstanding health care that transforms medicine. The organization also has a history of innovation that meets increasing health care challenges to include payer and patient demands.
The new demand of health care to move from a fee-for-service model to a value-based model requires organizations to rethink the system of providing health care to a population of patients. Innovation is essential, and in order to continue to improve our delivery model, UT Health San Antonio has chosen the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) path similar to that of our fellow institution, UT Southwestern.
UT Health’s forward thinking health care strategies revolve around truly delivering positive results for the patient by driving excellent clinical outcomes while also containing costs. This is a tremendous opportunity to collaborate with community physicians to practice 21st century medicine and move from volume to value-based care, while serving our community.
We are currently meeting with community physicians and physician groups that are considering joining our ACO. In collaboration with the community physicians who choose to participate in our ACO, UT Health San Antonio will work to improve health care in a meaningful way, improve patient experience, reduce costs for our patients and their families, and provide support for community clinicians for mastery of their practice.
We are extremely excited about the next steps in serving our community through innovative approaches to health care. To learn more about the UT Health Regional Physician Network, download the brochure.
If you have any questions about the UT Health San Antonio Regional Physician Network, please contact Brandon Hartman, senior director, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Operations & Business Development.
