Hospital Participation In ACOs To Double In 2014, Survey Says

Premier expects hospital participation in accountable care organizations to double in 2014, according to its fall 2013 Economic Outlook C-suite survey. Premier’s Economic Outlook highlights emerging economic and industry trends impacting alliance members and the industry.

More than 18 percent of 115 senior executive respondents – primarily CEOs (43.5 percent), chief financial officers and chief operating officers – across 35 states say their hospitals currently participate in an ACO, up from 4.8 percent in spring 2012. This growth is projected to accelerate, with about 50 percent of respondents suggesting their hospitals will participate in an ACO by the end of 2014. Overall, 76.5 percent of respondents say their hospital does or will participate in an ACO.

The pace of adoption has been slower than originally anticipated by senior executives surveyed 18 months ago. Though 51.8 percent of executives predicted in the spring of 2012 that their systems would create or join an ACO by the end of 2013, results show that only 23.5 percent will likely meet that projection.