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Andrea Bartolomeo
(703) 838-0033 ext. 333
abartolomeo@amga.org

21 July 2010

Leading Medical Groups to Present at AMGA National Summit on ACOs
Exemplars of the Model to Provide "Real-World" Examples on How to Develop and Maintain Accountable Care Organizations

ALEXANDRIA, VA - The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) today announced the lineup of presenters from provider groups for the AMGA National Summit on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which includes leading medical groups and organized systems of care that are currently serving as exemplars of the ACO model. These organizations, some of which are credited with the development of the ACO model based on their experiences in the CMS Physician Group Practice Demonstration and the practice patterns of high-performing healthcare organizations, will provide "real-world" perspective and guidance on the path to becoming an ACO.

"Our recent regional meetings on ACOs struck a chord with healthcare leaders who realize the patient care benefits of the ACO model," said Donald W. Fisher, Ph.D., CAE, President and CEO. "Our members are, and will continue to be, the unquestioned leaders in the ACO movement. AMGA members are the foremost high-performing, healthcare delivery systems in the nation and their experiences will inform and enlighten other organizations as they embark on their own journey."

IQL 2010: AMGA National Summit on ACOs will take place September 28-October 1 at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida. Presentations will feature leaders from the following AMGA members: Advocate Health Care, Alegent Health Clinic, Billings Clinic, Carilion Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic, Dean Health System, The Everett Clinic, Geisinger Health System, Henry Ford Health System, Holzer Clinic, Intermountain Healthcare, Lahey Clinic, Lehigh Valley Physician Group, Marshfield Clinic, Mayo Health System, Northwest Physicians Network, Physician Health Partners, The Permanente Federation, PriMed Physicians, Spectrum Health Medical Group, St. John's Health System, University of Utah Health Care Community Clinics, Virginia Mason Medical Center, WellStar Health System, and Western Washington Medical Group.

"We're excited that AMGA is hosting this important event," said presenter Nicholas Wolter, M.D., CEO of Billings Clinic. "The recent health reform legislation has begun the process of aligning incentives for value, and the organizations presenting at this summit are at the forefront of delivering care more efficiently and effectively. We look forward to lively discussions and information sharing as we explore how to become truly high-performing care organizations."

In addition to the national summit, AMGA is convening two collaboratives focused on ACO development: a Development Collaborative and an Implementation Collaborative. The collaboratives will offer access to content experts and provide a forum in which peer organizations can learn from one another as they begin to build and refine business and care processes to develop high-quality, efficient, and sustainable systems of care that provide high-value care to their patients and communities. The first meeting of the ACO Development Collaborative will take place in conjunction with the AMGA National Summit on ACOs. The first meeting of the ACO Implementation Collaborative will take place in January 2011.

Background
For many years, AMGA has pushed for reform efforts that foster the creation of community-based entities accountable for comprehensive healthcare services-referred to as ACOs in the newly passed healthcare legislation-that promote accountability and build on the practice patterns of high-performing organizations. The organization, in fact, provided guidance to congressional leaders on the appropriate language regarding ACOs and lobbied aggressively for its inclusion.

As part of its continuing efforts, the association hosted a series of regional meetings in 2010 that brought together the thought leaders of healthcare delivery systems to educate medical groups on how to develop, operate, and maintain high-performing ACOs. The meetings focused on physician-led, patient-centered ACOs and went beyond the theoretical by bringing together actual case studies presented by medical group leaders with firsthand experience in providing accountable care to their patients. AMGA's Institute for Quality Leadership (IQL), subtitled the "AMGA National Summit on ACOs," will continue the work of the regional meetings and by bringing groups from across the country to share their insights and strategies.

The American Medical Group Association represents medical groups, including some of the nation's largest, most prestigious medical practices, independent practice associations, and integrated healthcare delivery systems. AMGA's mission is to improve health care for patients by supporting multispecialty medical groups and other organized systems of care. The members of AMGA deliver health care to approximately 106 million patients in 49 states, nearly 1 in 3 Americans. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, AMGA is the strategic partner for medical groups, providing a comprehensive package of benefits, including political advocacy, educational and networking programs and publications, benchmarking data services, and financial and operations assistance. www.amga.org

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