The following is an introduction to the white paper HFS Consultants developed with the support of the California Healthcare Foundation.

Download White Paper Here.

Author: HFS Consultants

Introduction

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is an ambitious endeavor to improve health care in the United States. One of the ACA’s key features is the Accountable Care Organization (ACO). ACOs will contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide comprehensive coordinated services for a defined population of Medicare beneficiaries. If they meet quality standards and reduce costs, ACOs will share in the savings.

California’s rural areas constitute 85% of its land mass and are home to 5 million people, or 13.7% of its total population. This population faces many challenges that affect its health status and the delivery of health care services: (more…)