"Physical therapy is not a subspecialty of the medical profession and physical therapists are not medical doctors; we are a separate profession that provides a unique service that physicians are unable and untrained to provide."

Letter to the AMA from the APTA, Dec 2009

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Medicare ACOs Grow 38% in Six Months

Physical Therapists are keenly interested in the possibility of Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACO).

Private practice and corporate-owned rehabilitation companies are especially interested since we are not considered ACO Providers - but, we can partner with large physician practices and hospitals to provide therapy services and share in any cost savings.

ACOs have grown 38% in the last six months, according to a new report titled Growth and Dispersion of Accountable Care Organzations: June 1012 Update.
"Located in 45 states and the District of Columbia, ACOs total 221 partnerships, up from 160 ACOs in 40 states in November 2011..."
I think ACOs offer physical therapists an unrivaled opportunity to compete on the basis of:
  1. better costs
  2. better patient satisfaction
  3. better safety
  4. and better outcomes
...that's actually about the correct order - cost and satisfaction before safety and outcomes.

Can anyone suggest a better order?

Posted by Unknown at 12:23 PM
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Tim Richardson, PT owns a private practice at Medical Arts Rehabilitation, Inc in Palmetto, Florida. The clinic website is at MedicalArtsRehab.com.

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