CareOne to Participate in Accountable Care Organizations Selected for First Three Medicare-Approved ACOs in New Jersey

Fort. Lee, NJ, April 24, 2012 --(PR.com)-- CareOne, a leading provider of nursing and rehabilitative care, assisted living, long-term care and clinical specialty programs, has been selected to participate in the first three Medicare-approved Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in New Jersey.

ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers who come together voluntarily to give coordinated high quality care to their Medicare patients. ACO participants share in incentives from Medicare for controlling health care expenditures. Last week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced approval of 27 ACOs throughout the United States, including the Atlantic Health System ACO (partnering with Valley Hospital), The Hackensack Physician-Hospital Alliance ACO and Optimus Healthcare Partners ACO in Summit, NJ. These three New Jersey entities care for approximately 90,000 Medicare members.

"CareOne and its partners have been leaders of a movement in health care for providers to work together for the best interest of the patient," commented Tim Hodges, Chief Strategy Officer for CareOne. "Now this is being incentivized by Medicare. This can only lead to overall improved clinical outcomes and better communication with patients, their families and clinicians."

CareOne will participate in the ACOs by collaborating with network physicians and hospitals to provide post-hospital care and rehabilitation services for patients recovering from such conditions as orthopedic surgery, cardiac care, diabetes and respiratory illnesses. By helping recovering patients prepare for their return home, CareOne will help minimize the chances that they will have to return to the hospital.

"The three entities approved as ACOs in New Jersey deliver exceptional care," added Hodges, "and CareOne looks forward to advancing our clinical services together as we approach a new healthcare frontier."

"CareOne will play an important role in this new healthcare delivery network," added Dr. Jim Barr, Chief Medical Officer of Optimus ACO Health Partners. "The better rehabilitated patients can be after a hospital stay, the better the likelihood that they will be able to live at home independently and avoid returning to the hospital."

ACO programs include the sharing of clinical practitioners across the health care continuum. For example, CareOne has been piloting "Care Navigators" over the past year who are Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and Social Workers and who coordinate patient education, clinical care, and communication with each patient, their families and their primary care physician.

More information on Accountable Care Organizations can be obtained at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid website at www.cms.gov. Information about CareOne can be found at www.care-one.com.

CareOne is a New Jersey-based Senior Care Company with more than 45 years of health care experience. CareOne operates 29 centers throughout New Jersey, including CareOne at Cresskill, CareOne at Morris, CareOne at Teaneck and CareOne at Hanover Township.