Schramm Consulting founder, Sue Lyn Schramm, was recently interviewed by Jim Parker of Hospice News on the subject of ACOs. A brief excerpt begins below; see Hospice News for the complete text.
A contingent of the nation’s hospice providers are working to build relationships with accountable care organizations to preserve and build their referral networks as well as advance their acumen in working within value-based payment models. A keen focus on efficiency and cost savings is essential to success in those relationships, according to Sue Lyn Schramm, founder and principal of Schramm Consulting, LLC.
Close to 1,000 ACOs cover 44 million patients nationwide as of 2019, research has found. The ACO model involves groups of physician practices, hospitals and other health care organizations — including hospice and palliative care providers — who collaborate to provide coordinated care to patients. The programs are designed to improve the quality of care while generating cost savings, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Prior to founding her firm, Schramm worked as a hospice and palliative care executive and consultant for more than 20 years. She has advised dozens of hospice providers and state associations nationwide on matters such as strategic planning, market opportunity analysis, hospice facility planning and certificate of need regulation.