New Tool for Tracking Accountable Care at State Level

A number of states are at the forefront of efforts to design and implement innovative payment and delivery approaches that advance accountability in health care delivery.

Encouraged by state legislative mandates, as well as provisions in the Affordable Care Act to reorient federal health spending to promote accountable care, these states are developing a variety of initiatives to achieve better health outcomes at lower costs.

With the support of The Commonwealth Fund, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is tracking state activity to promote accountable care on its interactive State Accountable Care Activity map. NASHP has defined "accountable care" models as organizations or structures that:

• assume responsibility for a defined population of patients across a continuum of care; 
• are held accountable through payments linked to value and reliable performance measurements; 
• demonstrate that savings are achieved in conjunction with improvements in care.

Coalitions are invited to check out the activities in their states and examine whether there are ways for employers to be involved in these state-level efforts.