Limerick Physician Group Partners with Aledade to Create Accountable Care Organization

LIMERICK, PA -- Aledade, Inc. announced a partnership Tuesday with PMA Medical Specialists, LLC to form a physician-led Accountable Care Organization (ACO) serving the communities of suburban Philadelphia, according to a press release.

In the newly formed Aledade Freedom ACO, PMA Medical Specialists will provide care to more than 7,800 Medicare beneficiaries from its 18 locations in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, according to the press release.

PMA has locations in Audubon, Collegeville, Limerick, Paoli, Phoenixville, Pottstown and Schwenksville.

Organizers say that Aledade offers a new model of primary care by partnering with physicians to build and lead Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) – networks of doctors who band together to deliver coordinated care to patients.

According to Aledade, their model operates under a value-based payment structure that rewards physicians for delivering positive health outcomes for patients, rather than for the volume of health care services delivered. Aledade ACOs allow doctors to stay independent, practice medicine like they’ve always wanted to, and thrive by keeping people healthy.

“The Philadelphia area has been a leader in value-based care, but it has lacked ACOs led by independent physicians. We at Aledade have brought this to the Delaware Valley because we believe independent primary care doctors are the foundation of an effective and efficient health care system,” said Dr. Farzad Mostashari, CEO and co-founder of Aledade. “We’re proud to work with a growing, local health care leader in PMA Medical Specialists to improve patient health by delivering quality, personalized, and coordinated care

PMA Medical Specialists was founded in 1969 as a solo-physician practice. It has grown to 54 physicians and twenty certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants who provide medical care to thousands of patients per year. In addition to office-based primary and specialty care, PMA offers a number of high-value services through its diagnostic treatment centers, the press release states.

“The Aledade Freedom ACO is a unique opportunity to partner with PMA’s independent doctors to help them take advantage of value-based opportunities that have previously only been available to the largest physician networks and hospital providers,” said Ahmed Haque, Executive Director at Aledade.

Since its founding in June 2014, Aledade has grown tremendously, partnering with more than 110 practices in 11 states, covering more than 100,000 patients, and taking accountability for nearly $1 billion in annual medical costs, the release states.

Patch file photo.