New CEO for Top Accountable Care Organization

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Nov. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- Naming Richard J. Cassidy, M.D., MBA as CEO of ACO Health Partners was a strategic move, matching a leading health executive with one of the nation’s top Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).  Dr. Cassidy currently serves as Vice President of Health Services for Teladoc, the first and largest telehealth provider in the nation. Prior to that, he was chief accountable care officer for Walgreens, managing their MSSP ACOs and population health initiatives. He has extensive managed care experience with nineteen years at three different insurers, most recently as Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.

ACO Health Partners, managed by healthcare technology enablement company Citra Health Solutions, is a physician-led Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).  It is built on a model of coordinated care to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time, avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and prevention of medical errors. Utilizing Citra Health Solutions’ technology and support services, ACO Health Partners was one of only 27% of ACOs nationwide receiving 2014 shared savings from CMS.

“Dr. Cassidy is a highly experienced and focused leader, and brings significant industry and domain expertise, business acumen and an unbridled commitment to patient care. He is passionate about improving healthcare using technological advances and has a clear vision for equipping ACO Health Partners with the leadership needed to show continued success and a vision for the future,” said Howard Buff, Chairman of ACO Health Partners and CEO/Founder of Citra Health Solutions.

The continued success of ACO Health Partners is particularly significant as it operates in Northeast Florida, which is known to be ranked in the top 20 percent of the most expensive healthcare markets in the United States. Forty-five percent of patients in this market see 10 or more doctors in the last 6 months of life (placing Jacksonville as number 43 on a list of the highest healthcare spending cities in the U.S.). On average, Jacksonville patients have 7.1 more visits spread across 1.5 more doctors than the average market. ACO Health Partners is committed to changing these statistics starting with the patients and doctors in this ACO network.

“The proven success of ACO Health Partners already shows their commitment to quality patient experiences while lowering costs,” explains Cassidy about the decision to bring him on board to spearhead the ACO initiative. “I am energized to come alongside and offer my experience and background as a springboard into the future of how we deliver care.”

About Citra

Citra Health Solutions aligns the needs of providers and patients with a focus on better health and more efficient value-based management. By combining scalable services with technical solutions, Citra enables its partners to optimize business practices while improving health outcomes for patients. To learn more, visit www.citrahealth.com.