The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2020 results for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and Wellstar Clinical Partners (WCP) Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) helped CMS save over $18 million for the entire performance year. During the 2020 calendar year, WCP Medicare ACO also received its highest quality score and yielded the third-best financial performance, resulting in cost savings for patients. 

“Even through the most challenging times such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, Wellstar has remained dedicated to providing high-quality, world-class care for our patients,” said Dr. John Brennan, executive vice president and chief clinical integration officer of Wellstar Health System. Dr. Joseph Havlik, chairman of the board for WCP added, “While we continue to work together to keep our communities safe, we’re all proud that we have been able to remain focused on excellent quality, appropriate cost, exceptional patient experience and caregiver well-being.”

Wellstar achieved a quality score of 97%, a metric that rates ACOs on patient experience, patient safety, preventive health and at-risk populations. The WCP Medicare ACO performed in the top 15 percent of ACOs for 2020 based on generated savings, out of more than 500 other ACOs.

“Our physicians and partners are passionate about the health and well-being of our patients,” said Barbara Corey, senior vice president of Managed Care for Wellstar Health System. “The scores and accomplishments for the 2020 calendar year are a true testament to our commitment to providing compassionate and exceptional care.”

One of the largest and most experienced ACOs in Georgia, the WCP Medicare ACO is consistently named one of the top ACOs in the country. Additionally, the ACO is the only one in Georgia to help Medicare bend the healthcare cost curve for seven of the last eight years. Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who come together voluntarily to provide coordinated high-quality care to their Medicare patients. 

The WCP Medicare ACO leverages its internal resources, infrastructure, and partnerships with employed and affiliated physicians to deliver high quality, cost-effective healthcare to the communities it serves. Since 2012, the WCP Medicare ACO has been a consistent, high-quality, top performing ACO and it is among the top MSSP ACOs when measured by cumulative savings to Medicare of over $111 million.