Most PCPs will participate in ACOs next year

Nearly half of the primary care physicians (PCPs) polled in a recent study say they plan to participate in an accountable care organization (ACO) within the next year.

The new U.S. Physician and Payer Forum report, titled “Accountable Care Organizations: How Will Payer and Provider Adoption of this Model Impact Prescribing Trends in Cardiometabolic Diseases,” was completed by Decision Resources, a research and advisory firm for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues.

Study results also revealed that doctors already participating in ACOs contract with several types of payers, and the majority contract with commercial plans. Nearly 60% have agreements with Medicare Advantage and Medicaid ACOs as well.

For PCPs contracting with commercial ACOs, compensation is tied to generic dispensing rates, with a higher percentage point for clinical outcomes such as hospital readmissions. Compensation metrics are intended to reduce costs and shift prescribing toward specific therapies, according to the report.

In recent years, it has become more common for physicians to be assessed on their use of high-value services, such as prescribing medications for certain chronic conditions, as a means of quality measurement.