Advocacy Group Formed Around Accountable Care
A new advocacy organization, Accountable for Health (A4H), has been launched to accelerate the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care models. The new 501(c)(4) organization will focus on advocacy, research, and education in support of effective accountable care.
More than 30 companies and health systems have joined A4H, including Aledade, CareAllies, Mary Washington Health Alliance, Optum and Southwestern Health Resources.
A4H is led by CEO Mara McDermott, who recently served as the senior vice president of federal affairs at America’s Physician Groups (formerly the California Association of Physician Groups, CAPG), a professional association representing medical groups and independent practice associations practicing in capitated, coordinated care models.
"Well-designed accountable care delivery models have been improving people's lives across the country for decades, but this transformation is not easy and needs champions to advocate for faster, broader adoption," said McDermott, in a statement. "The critical transition from fee-for-service to models that are accountable for health is vulnerable due to a lack of awareness and understanding of the benefits it will produce. Drawing on our deep bench of experts and members, we will promote greater understanding of the impact of accountable care on patients' lives and how to advance its adoption. Our goal is to serve as a resource for crucial solutions for a better future in health care, one that provides convenient, coordinated and outcomes-driven care."
A Policy Council of former government officials and thought leaders will develop and advise A4H on a policy agenda informed by accountable care practitioners. The Policy Council is co-chaired by Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., Director and Robert J. Margolis, M.D., Professor of Business, Medicine and Policy at Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy and former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Melanie Bella, Head of Partnerships and Policy at Cityblock Health, and former Director of the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office at CMS.
"Accountable for Health has an extremely important role to play, building support for improved health outcomes across policymakers, the full spectrum of payers and programs, and participants in our health care system,” said Bella in a statement. “We look forward to learning from our members to bring critical perspectives and data for the benefit of states, business leaders, health care organizations, clinicians, patients and caregivers."
