Akron Children's Health Collaborative

The Akron Children’s Health Collaborative is a partnership between pediatric health care providers who work together to offer high quality care at a lower cost by contracting directly with Medicaid managed care organizations and commercial payors.
We have the power to be truly transformational in addressing all aspects of child health and keeping kids healthy through:

• Care management to help coordinate services and connect families to community resources.
• Behavioral health services to support the mental health and well-being of children.
• Population health initiatives to address barriers to care with an emphasis on well child care and health screenings, management of chronic health conditions, and improved access to care.
• Quality improvement through the continuous monitoring of the care we provide as it compares to national benchmarks.

For Patients

The Akron Children’s Health Collaborative (ACHC) is a pediatric accountable care organization (ACO) that is creating a network of health care providers to deliver coordinated, high-quality and cost-effective care to your child, while contracting directly with your insurer. Through ACHC, we will continue to provide you and your child with family-centered care, with an increased focus on care management and behavioral health services to ensure all of your child’s needs are met.
ACHC also has a team of nurses and social workers who can help you:

• Find the right care for your child
• Answer your health questions
• Schedule visits with your child’s doctor
• Fill prescriptions
• Find transportation to doctor visits
• Connect you to services like food pantries and housing in your community
• Help keep your child well These services are free to you and your child. You will keep your insurance and see the same doctors and nurses who have been providing care to your child. By working closely with your child’s doctors, we will help ensure your child receives the best care possible when they are sick and support services to keep them healthy.

For Providers

Providers have played a key role in the initial design of the Akron Children’s Health Collaborative (ACHC). Provider partnership and engagement are essential to improving the health of children throughout the Northeast Ohio region. ACHC is a provider-led and provider-driven organization. Our contracted provider network includes independent pediatricians and family medicine providers, Akron Children’s employed pediatricians, as well as pediatric subspecialists, behavioral health providers, women’s care providers, Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

Through value-based contracts in 14 counties in Northeast Ohio, ACHC provides services, such as care management. Along with more resources for care management, participating providers also receive one-on-one support from practice support specialists. These specialists collaborate with providers to identify tools and resources for performance improvement to help meet practice and patient goals and ensure care is delivered efficiently, effectively and equitably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to be employed by Akron Children’s or abandon my medical staff privileges at other hospitals?
No, a key benefit of participation with ACHC is that it allows community providers to collaborate without sacrificing independence. As a regional integrated and independent organization, we understand the value of independence. ACHC does not preclude participants from maintaining their own private practice or restrict the facilities to which they can refer or provide services.

Will participation in ACHC require me to change the way I practice medicine?
To some extent, yes. Participants will design and implement clinical protocols and care pathways for cross-continuum coordination, evidence-based medicine, and patient engagement. Practice support specialists will assist providers in the implementation of these improvements and provide data reports identifying additional areas for improving quality metrics. This quality-based model will require adoption by all participants to be successful.

Am I obligated to use ACHC providers for all referrals/consults?
No, providers are encouraged to refer patients to the most appropriate specialist (based on patient’s location, insurance coverage and timely access).

How will I be paid by ACHC and how will it affect my regular compensation?
Participants will maintain their existing fee-for-service (FFS) contracts with payors. However, ACHC provider groups can earn incentive compensation for collaboration, engagement, improvement and overall performance. Incentives will be paid to the practice tax identification number according to ACHC’s Incentive Policy. Practices will be responsible for determining the distribution of ACHC incentive funds to their providers. Providers are required to complete the performance year to remain eligible for distribution of provider incentives.

What happens if I do not want to remain in ACHC after joining?
ACHC participation automatically renews annually. Participants may leave ACHC at any time without cost by notifying ACHC in writing of their intention to exit the network.

Is ACHC a Clinically Integrated Network (CIN)?
No, a CIN is a network of providers who share information to improve quality of care, reduce costs, and may jointly negotiate fee-for-service (FFS) contracts with payors. ACHC envisions supporting relationships between payors and participating provider groups, but does not plan to jointly negotiate FFS contracts in the near-term.

Can I join other CINs if I join ACHC?
Yes, participants are free to become members in other CINs and ACOs, as long as they continue to honor all requirements, responsibilities and obligations to ACHC. This requirement is subject to change and approval by the ACHC Board of Directors.

More information on the Akron Children's Health Collaborative