Council of Accountable Physician Practices

The Council of Accountable Physician Practices, an affiliate of the American Medical Group Association, is a consortium of physician-led group practices and organized health systems in the U.S.  Its goals are to demonstrate that accountable physician practices deliver effective, efficient health care that improves clinical outcomes, satisfies patients, and controls costs, and to foster the development of accountable physician practices (or accountable care organizations) as a model for U.S. health care system reform.  Its members include:

• Austin Regional Clinic, Texas
• The Cleveland Clinic, Ohio
• Billings Clinic, Montana
• Dean Health System, Wisconsin
• Duluth Clinic, Minnesota
• The Everett Clinic, Washington
• Fallon Clinic, Massachusetts
• Geisinger Clinic, Pennsylvania

• Group Health Permanente, Washington, Idaho
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Massachusetts

• HealthCare Partners Medical Group, California
• HealthPartners, Minnesota
• Henry Ford Medical Group, Michigan
• The Jackson Clinic, Tennessee
• Intermountain Health Care, Utah
• Lahey Clinic, Massachusetts
• Marshfield Clinic, Wisconsin
• Mayo Clinic, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota
• Mayo Health System, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin
• Nemours, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
• Ochsner Clinic, Louisiana
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation, California
• The Permanente Federation, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C.
• Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, California
• Scott and White, Texas
• Virginia Mason Medical Center, Washington
• Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, Washington

The Council has launched a social media campaign, using three companion websites: www.AccountableCareChoices.org (for consumers), www. AccountableCareFacts.org (for the media) and www.AccountableCareStories.org (for policymakers).   The websites feature easily accessible tools, research, definitions, case studies, and FAQs about what accountable care should be, why it’s important to the health of our country, and how to find it today in America.  The common messaging is centered around an accountable care philosophy that is based on five principles:

1. a patient- centered approach to care that emphasizes primary care and prevention;
2. the use of health information technology to improve information-sharing and communication among providers;
3. team-based, coordinated care and case management;
4. evidence-based treatment options; and
5. appropriate access to care services to ensure that patients get the right care at the right time.