ACO stands for an Accountable Care Organization. It is a program governed by the CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. ACO’s are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who come together voluntarily to give coordinated high-quality care to their Medicare patients

FAQs Archive - Richmond Health Network

Q: What does being in an ACO mean?

Being in an ACO means that the participating providers and ACO administration are responsible for the quality, cost, and coordination of care for all Medicare patients assigned to them. They must ensure certain quality metrics are met and reduce unnecessary utilization of the hospital and other inpatient settings. You will receive an ACO letter once a year if your provider is enrolled in the program.