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Craig Samitt

Javon R. Bea

JANESVILLE One of Rock Countys two largest health care providers already has been selected to participate in a national program designed to provide Medicare recipients with better care at a lower cost.

The otherMercy Health Systemplans to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to become an accountable care organization in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

Officials from both said the basis of the voluntary program is a delivery model theyve been advocating and using for years.

Accountable care organizations are groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers that work together to coordinate and provide high quality care to their Medicare patients. The goal is to ensure that patients get the right care at the right time without unnecessary duplication of services and medical errors.

When an ACO meets benchmarks for care quality and efficiency, it will share in the savings it generates for the Medicare program.

I think the model provided by ACOs is the way of the future, said Craig Samitt, president and chief executive officer of Dean Health System.

Earlier this month, Dean Clinic & St. Marys Hospital ACO was one of 89 systems from around the country selected to participate in the program as an ACO.

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