Ochsner Accountable Care Network Announces $23M+ in Savings for Medicare Beneficiaries

The Ochsner Accountable Care Network, LLC (OACN) reported its 2019 performance results, which include a reduction in the expected cost of care by more than $23M for 31,000 Medicare beneficiaries. The 2019 savings represented a 53% increase in savings per beneficiary (nearly $800 per patient) and an 81% increase in total savings over 2018.  This report marks OACN’s third consecutive year of successful clinical performance. The progress in chronic disease management and preventive health programs positively impacted the overall health of the elderly population throughout the region.

“The continued success of Ochsner Health Network (OHN) and OACN is a reflection of unparalleled collaboration and a shared vision of creating a healthier region,” said David Carmouche, MD, executive director, OACN. “Louisiana and Mississippi face significant and disproportionate healthcare challenges compared to the rest of the country, and our entire team of providers and staff proves ready to face them by finding solutions that improve the health, quality of life and cost of care for our elderly patients and community. Through the sharing of data, utilization of technology, and enhanced access and communication, we are making strides toward reducing Louisiana’s alarmingly poor health rankings and disparities among our most vulnerable population.”

Efforts that contributed to OACN’s 2019 MSSP results include:

-Improved preventive care delivery by increasing annual wellness visits, decreasing unnecessary emergency room (ER) visits, and increasing life-saving screenings for common cancers and other health issues, including depression.

-Enhanced access to primary and urgent care services and focus on communication.

-Improved collaboration with patients’ care teams through EPIC, a best-in-class electronic health record.

-Utilization of software and technology that can identify and predict health risks in patients.

-Sharing of robust health data, tools and technology to support clinicians in the care of our most vulnerable patients who suffer from chronic conditions. 

OACN is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) that consists of more than 2,700 providers in Louisiana and Mississippi. OACN was founded in 2013 to ensure that patients, especially those with chronic conditions, get the right care, at the right time, in the right place. OACN is dedicated to improving health outcomes and supports population health efforts across Louisiana and the Gulf South. As the largest ACO in Louisiana, OACN’s team includes Ochsner employed and community providers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, St. Tammany Parish, Houma, and South Mississippi.

ACOs are groups of physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers who come together voluntarily to provide coordinated, quality care to Medicare patients.

09/17/2020