Knowledge, Attitudes, and Confidence in Accountable Care Organization-Based Payment Models Among RI Physicians

Study Objective or Background: To assess Rhode Island (RI) physician knowledge, attitudes, and confidence to succeed in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Study Design and Methods: We surveyed RI physicians' attitudes and beliefs about ACOs, including scales measuring Physician Knowledge (7 Multiple Choice and True/False items), Attitudes (8 Likert scale items), and Confidence (7 Likert Scale Items), and examined how physician characteristics related to these measures. Primary Results: The response rate was 6 percent (72/1183). Means (100-point scale) and standard deviations were calculated for Knowledge 65.3 (22), Attitudes for ACO participants 56.3 (13.2) and ACO non-participants 42.7 (14.3), and Confidence 32.4 (25.9). Primary care physicians had higher Attitudes compared with specialists among ACO participants (60.2 vs. 51.8, p=.047) and ACO non-participants (48.2 vs. 34.4, p=.030). Principal Conclusions: RI Physicians have low scores in Knowledge, Attitudes, and Confidence scales in ACOs. Primary care physicians have more positive Attitudes about ACOs than specialists. This study is limited by its low response rate. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2019-03.asp].