Westmed Medical Group, the 250-physician group practice with headquarters in Purchase, has been named an Accountable Care Organization treating Medicare patients in the federal government”™s new shared savings program with health care providers.
Westmed was one of 89 ACOs announced Monday, including nine in New York state, by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It is the second physician practice in Westchester to join the voluntary Medicare program, which rewards doctors and other health care providers with a share of savings on costs for Medicare services that meet federal standards for high-quality, coordinated care. Federal officials have projected government savings of up to $940 million over four years through the Medicare ACO program, part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010.
Mount Kisco Medical Group, the county”™s largest group practice, in April was among the first 27 ACOs chosen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Medicare officials said the newly announced ACOs will serve about 1.2 million persons with Medicare benefits in 40 states and Washington, D.C. Launched in January, the shared savings program has grown to include more than 2.4 million beneficiaries and 154 participating health care organizations.
