BOSTON, Massachusetts. –  August 17, 2017

The Baker-Polito Administration announced today that 17 health care organizations across the state have executed agreements to participate in a major restructuring of the MassHealth program. Effective March 1, 2018, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), networks of physicians, hospitals and other community based health care providers, will be financially accountable for cost, quality, and member experience for over 850,000 MassHealth members.

“Today’s ACO agreements will directly lead to better and more coordinated care for MassHealth members across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Under the new agreements, ACOs will be held accountable for the cost of their services and overall health outcomes of their patients. These changes, coupled with our nation-leading level of coverage and the $50 billion federal Medicaid waiver our administration successfully secured last year, will help ensure that Massachusetts continues to lead the country in affordable, quality health care.”

“Under the new ACO model, health care providers will be paid to improve the care coordination and health outcomes for MassHealth members,” said Massachusetts Secretary for Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “As part of the ACO program's focus on quality, MassHealth will be tracking member experience and is committed to improving the care members receive.”

Read the full Mass.gov press release here.