The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Wellstar Clinical Partners (WCP) Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) has been approved to participate in the new CMS Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), “Pathways to Success,” starting January 1, 2020.
 
“Wellstar’s participation in the Pathways to Success program clearly demonstrates our commitment to helping our patients, communities and country better manage the rising costs of healthcare by combining value-based, high-quality, care with innovative solutions,” said Candice Saunders, Chief Executive Officer of Wellstar Health System. “At Wellstar, we get to know each and every patient – and their families – and we ensure they all receive the tailored care they need for the best possible outcomes across our entire network.”
 
The CMS Pathways to Success program is designed to advance five goals: Accountability, Competition, Engagement, Integrity and Quality. “WCP’s participation in the Pathways to Success program through a five-year contract with CMS is the culmination of many successful years of providing high-quality, coordinated care across the Wellstar network of world-class providers,” said Joe Havlik, M.D., West Georgia Infectious Diseases, Wellstar Cobb Hospital and Board Chair for the WCP. “By working closely with our population health team and the rest of our Wellstar family of providers, we are able to meet the needs of our patients now, and in the future, so they receive the best possible care throughout their healthcare journey.”
 
Wellstar has significant experience leading ACOs. The Wellstar Health Network ACO, under the previous MSSP Program, was one of the top 130 ACOs in the country, according to Becker’s Healthcare, and one of the largest and most experienced ACOs in Georgia. Cumulatively, from 2012 through 2018, Wellstar was also one of the top 20 ACOs in total earned savings. MSSP ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who come together voluntarily to provide coordinated, high-quality care to their Medicare patients.
 
“The WCP Medicare ACO is physician-led and driven. Our physician leaders and more than 1,600 dedicated physician partners ensure we put our patients at the center of everything we do,” said Barbara Corey, President, WCP Medicare ACO at Wellstar. “As a result, WCP Medicare ACO physicians are highly engaged and work together to provide tailored care that meets the needs of each and every patient, every time.”