Spread of Accountable Care Organizations in Rural America.

Purpose. The RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis continues to monitor the spread of Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) into rural U.S. counties to determine whether this model appeals to rural providers and health systems. The RUPRI Center’s periodic reports reveal trends in rural ACO activity; this brief follows one released in July 2013, with data through December 2015. Key Findings. The following findings are based on activity through 2015: (1) Medicare ACOs operate in 41.8 percent of all nonmetropolitan counties. (2) Non-metropolitan provider participation in ACOs has increased considerably since 2013, especially in the South, West, and Northeast census regions. (3) The 101 new ACO entrants in 2016 included at least 43 ACOs with providers in non-metropolitan areas.