title: Participation of Rural Health Care Providers in Accountable Care Organizations: Early Indications.
abstract: Recently, some rural health clinics (RHCs) throughout the country have chosen to join groups of health care providers in accountable care organizations (ACOs). Examined are characteristics of Southeastern RHCs and the counties they serve; it is shown how those characteristics compare with other regions across the country and suggested what role those differences might play in an RHC's decision to participate in an ACO. Rural health clinic-related data were collected and summarized for 2 time periods: 2007 and 2011: for 2007, data from RHCs throughout the United States; for 2011, summarized demographic data related to region 4 RHCs specifically. Several characteristics about region 4 RHCs indicate that they may be slow to participate in ACOs. However, other characteristics, including their perception that ACOs may improve the quality of care and health outcomes of their patients and communities, may facilitate the process of RHCs joining ACOs, should they choose to do so. Addressing the health care needs and health care quality of rural populations must be part of the design, development, and performance monitoring of ACOs of the future.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: College of Health and Public Affairs (Dr Ortiz and Ms Lin) and College of Business Administration (Dr Hofler), University of Central Florida, Orlando; and Division of Scientific Programs National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (Dr Berzon).
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hofler
authors.forename: Yi-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berzon
mesh_terms: D060866:Accountable Care Organizations; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States