Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who come together voluntarily to give coordinated, high-quality care to their patients. The goal of coordinated care is to ensure that patients, especially the chronically ill, get the right care at the right time while preventing medical errors and avoiding the unnecessary duplication of services. By helping doctors and primary care providers to communicate more closely with other healthcare providers, ACOs can also deliver care that better meets patients’ individual needs and preferences.
Boston Accountable Care Organization, Inc. (BACO) and BMC Integrated Care Services, Inc. (BMCICS) are both accountable care organizations.
Boston Accountable Care Organization (BACO)
Mission and Vision
As an accountable care organization, the mission of the Boston Accountable Care Organization, Inc. (BACO) is to improve the healthcare of the populations served by our network, better managing all aspects of healthcare and improving the overall health of the population served while operating more efficiently. BACO integrates the resources of its participants and their affiliated physicians to provide more effective, higher quality, and less expensive care for patients.
Faithful to the spirit of partnership and innovation, while fulfilling BMC’s mission of providing exceptional care to all, BACO is a leader in the provision of patient care that:
- Improves its patients’ experience of care
- Improves the health of all patients served
- Addresses the specific healthcare needs of vulnerable populations
- Reduces the costs of the healthcare it provides
We accomplish these aims through an integrated delivery system that coordinates care across the continuum — providing the right care at the right place at the right time.
Programs
BACO is an innovator and leader around issues core to Medicaid patients. For example:
- Our complex care management program improves outcomes for patients with complex, chronic disease and multiple health-related social needs. This video illustrates the impact of our program on one patient, Carl:
- We are publishing cutting-edge research and perspectives on relevant topics, such as access to long-acting contraceptives.
- We are piloting innovative solutions to help our patients experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, including developing our housing services department, Living Well at Home, and creating supportive housing partnerships with local housing agencies and property owners.
Member Organizations
In addition to BMC hospital, BACO’s member organizations include:
- Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
- Boston University Medical Group
- Cape Cod Healthcare
- Codman Square Health Center
- DotHouse Health (formerly Dorchester House Multi-Service Center)
- Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center
- Harbor Health
- Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center
- HealthFirst Family Care Center, Inc.
- Holyoke Medical Center/Valley Health Partners PHO
- Manet Community Health
- Mattapan Community Health Center
- NeighborHealth East Boston (formerly East Boston Neighborhood Health Center)
- South Boston Community Health Center
- South Shore Health/South Shore PHO
- SSTAR (formerly Stanley Street Treatment and Resources)
- Sturdy Health
- Upham’s Corner Health Center
Leadership
Board of Directors
President Elect: Cynthia H. Sierra, CEO of Manet Community Health
Treasurer: William Creevy, MD
Clerk: David Beck
Executive Director: Michael Olsen
Medical Director: Jason Worcester
Patient Advisory Committee
The needs and desires of the patient population of the Boston Accountable Care Organization is at the forefront of our work. To that end, as a part of its governance structure BACO has a Patient Advisory Committee that currently reports to its Board of Directors. The purposes of the Committee are to assist the Board in meeting its responsibilities to ensure that the interests of the ACO’s patients and their families are met.
The Committee has appointed a consumer representative to sit on BACO’s Board of Directors and, in the near future, intends to recommend a consumer or consumer advocate to represent patients with disabilities to the Board or one of its Committees.
Member Rights & Grievance Policy
Member Rights
The Boston Accountable Care Organization represents medical practices, health centers, and systems across the state that are committed to improving the care you receive.
As a member who receives services through an accountable care organization, you are guaranteed the following rights:
- The right to receive written information provided by Boston Accountable Care Organization in accordance with the following requirements:
- Making such information available in prevalent non-English languages.
- Making free oral interpretation services available for all non-English languages.
- Making such information available in alternative formats and in an appropriate manner that takes into consideration the special needs you may have.
- The right to be treated with respect and with due consideration for your dignity and privacy;
- The right to receive information on available treatment options and alternatives, presented in a manner appropriate to your condition and ability to understand;
- The right to participate in decisions regarding your healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment;
- The right to be free from any form of restraint or seclusion used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation, in accordance with applicable federal law;
- The right to request and receive any of your medical records in your provider’s possession, and be notified of the process for requesting amendments or corrections to such records;
- The right to freely exercise your rights set forth in this section and not have the exercise of those rights adversely affect the manner in which Boston Accountable Care Organization or any Affiliated Provider treats you.
These rights will be observed and protected by Boston Accountable Care Organization, its Affiliated Providers, and its employees.
Grievance Policy
BACO has established a policy to file a grievance if you are dissatisfied with the care you received. Upon receipt of a grievance, you will be notified within two business days that BACO received the grievance. The grievance will be reviewed and resolved within 30 calendar days from the date that BACO received the grievance and you will be notified of the resolution.
Boston Accountable Care Organization’s grievance policy in no way replaces or eliminates access to any other available grievance policies and procedures, including those of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. In addition, Boston Accountable Care Organization will not seek to limit your access to or discourage you from using the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services process.
To file a grievance you should contact the Senior Administrative Assistant of Boston Accountable Care Organization by either calling 617.414.1673 or mailing a written grievance to the following address:
Boston Accountable Care Organization, Inc.
Attention: Senior Administrative Assistant
720 Harrison Avenue
10th Floor, Room 1029A
Boston, MA 02118
BMC Integrated Care Services (BMCICS) and the Medicare Shared Savings Program
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