Citation:
Carrie H. Colla PD, Courtney Stachowski MPH, Kundu S, Harris B, Gregory Kennedy MS, Marko Vujicic PD. Dental Care Within Accountable Care Organizations: Challenges and Opportunities. ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) and The Dartmouth Institute - Research Brief; 2016.
 | ada_hpi_aco_brief.pdf | 161 KB |
Abstract:
Research brief written by the ADA Health Policy Institute in partnership with The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice. March 2016.
Key Messages
- Most accountable care organizations (ACOs) are not responsible for dental care as part of their ACO contract. Nine percent of the largest commercial contracts and 25 percent of Medicaid contracts hold providers responsible for the cost and quality of dental services.
- The top reason ACOs report for excluding dental care is a lack of integrated health information technology. The perceived potential for cost savings associated with dental care is the top motivation among ACOs that include or plan to include dental care.
- Despite research suggesting that integration of dental care may benefit patients, financing and delivery of dental care remains disconnected from other health services, even among ACOs working to improve overall population health. Integration of dental care may present an opportunity for improved accountability for total health, yet to date, there is little incentive for ACOs to facilitate access to these services.