Coordinated care supports Medicare beneficiaries in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey

(WILMINGTON, Del. — Nov. 12, 2024) 

The eBrightHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO) reduced health care spending by approximately $2.4 million for its 27,000 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023, while achieving a quality score of 88.4%, according to recently released performance data by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

“These strong results reflect eBrightHealth ACO’s steadfast commitment to our Medicare beneficiaries,” said Christine Donohue-Henry, M.D., MBA, president and CEO of eBrightHealth ACO. “Our dedicated team of clinicians and health system partners remains focused on essential aspects of care, such as care transitions, coordination, data sharing, quality improvement and ongoing practice transformation. By emphasizing the health and wellness of our patients, we ensure they receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

ACOs offer a market-based solution to fragmented and costly care, empowering local physicians, hospitals and other providers to collaborate, improve quality, enhance patient experience and keep care affordable. The Medicare Shared Savings Program incentivizes ACOs to invest in care transformation by enabling them to share in the savings they generate after achieving defined quality and cost goals.

eBrightHealth ACO, which included 2,000 primary and specialty care clinicians across multiple health systems in 2023, has achieved shared savings for four consecutive years and has reduced health care costs for its Medicare beneficiaries for eight consecutive years. The cumulative amount saved during the ACO’s participation in the program is $56 million.

The ACO helps clinicians address the comprehensive needs of Medicare beneficiaries, improving care coordination and health outcomes. The goal is to improve access to primary care, reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and prevent or minimize the need for hospital care. By maintaining regular communication, eBrightHealth ACO educates and empowers beneficiaries to take charge of their health, promoting medication adherence, annual wellness visits and other essential wellness activities.

In 2023, it garnered a shared savings payment of $1.16 million.

For the 2023 reporting period, eBrightHealth ACO received high marks for controlling blood sugar in patients with diabetes and blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

“The dedication and collaboration of our clinicians are genuinely improving the lives of our patients, helping them stay healthier for longer,” said Rose Kakoza, M.D., MPH, senior clinical network director, ChristianaCare Clinical Alliance. “We are working hard to deliver an exceptional experience for every patient and make a lasting positive impact on their well-being.”

eBrightHealth ACO is supported by the physician-led ChristianaCare Clinical Alliance, and care coordination services are provided by ChristianaCare’s award-winning care coordination company, CareVio®. In partnership with community providers, CareVio’s multidisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, pharmacists and care coordinators serve as care managers for individuals with acute, chronic and complex health care needs. CareVio uses real-time data and predictive analytics to identify ways to help patients manage their health more effectively, preventing complications that could lead to unnecessary hospitalizations or avoidable emergency department visits.

The National Association of ACOs provides more Information on ACOs, including a fact sheet and other resources — What is an ACO? and the ABCs of ACOs.

About eBrightHealth ACO
eBrightHealth ACO is an accountable care organization that includes more than 2,000 primary and specialty care clinicians from two regional health systems — Bayhealth and ChristianaCare — as well as a federally qualified health center, Westside Family Healthcare, and four private primary care practices. This statewide collaboration helps clinicians address the overall health needs of Medicare beneficiaries, including behavioral health and non-medical needs that impact health, through highly coordinated care that focuses on primary care and careful management of chronic conditions to prevent the need for emergency care and hospitalization. eBrightHealth ACO serves 27,000 Medicare beneficiaries from Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. eBrightHealth ACO is supported by the physician-led ChristianaCare Clinical Alliance, and care coordination services are provided by ChristianaCare’s care coordination company, CareVio®.

Need an expert source? Our Experts, ChristianaCare's expert database, can help you find the right source for your next news story. Request an interview ➜

About ChristianaCare

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, ChristianaCare is one of the country’s most dynamic health care organizations, centered on improving health outcomes, and innovating to make high-quality care more accessible, equitable and affordable. ChristianaCare includes an extensive network of primary care and outpatient services, home health care, urgent care centers, three hospitals (1,430 beds), a freestanding emergency department, a Level I trauma center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health. It also includes the pioneering Gene Editing Institute.

ChristianaCare is nationally recognized as a great place to work, rated by Forbes as one of the nation’s best employers for diversity and inclusion. ChristianaCare is rated by Newsweek as one of the World’s Best Hospitals and is continually ranked among the best in the U.S. in national quality and safety ratings. ChristianaCare is a nonprofit teaching health system with more than 260 residents and fellows. With its groundbreaking Center for Virtual Health and a focus on population health and value-based care, ChristianaCare is shaping the future of health care.

####