The Aging and Disability Business Institute [operated by National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and a team of partners] has launched a new Readiness Assessment tool, a powerful resource that will help community-based organizations (CBOs) determine their capacity and preparedness for engaging in contractual partnerships with health care payers and providers.

The interactive tool will walk CBOs through seven different modules covering readiness on key topics that impact health care partnerships, including operations, leadership, management, and more.

Learn more and access the tool.

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Learn more about ACL’s Business Acumen Initiative to help states and community-based organizations build networks and respond to delivery system changes, including technical assistance, building business capacity for successful contracting with integrated care entities, and developing pathways to sustainability.

How Business Acumen Helps

Medicaid, Medicare, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), private insurers, and other private pay models offer opportunities for CBOs to tap into new revenue streams outside of government grants. However, securing contracts with such payers – and performing effectively under them – requires thinking and operating differently.

To successfully participate in this environment, aging and disability organizations must understand critical business skills and be prepared to:

• build relationships with health care providers and payers;
• price and bill for services;
• describe how services will generate return on investment and cost savings for payers;
• negotiate contracts;
• manage interoperable data systems;
• access electronic health records; and
• report data to payers.