Report: ACO savings range from under 1% to 6%

Accountable care organization savings vary widely, from under 1 percent in some studies, to 6 percent for high performing organizations, according to a report from Health Affairs. 

The journal compiled findings from several studies of the Medicare Shared Savings Program and other private accountable care organizations. 

Here are four other findings to note: 

1. Researching accountable care organization savings can be challenging, because it is difficult to establish a "true counterfactual," or what would have happened without an ACO, in order to compare outcomes. 
2. Some research suggests accountable care organizations achieve savings as they mature. 
3. A 2013-2015 HHS Inspector General's Office report found the highest performing ACOs in the Medicare Shared Savings Program saved between 5.9 and 6.1 percent. 
4. A 2019 CMS study found the Medicare Shared Savings Program saved between .9 and 1.5 percent. 

Read more here.