Introducing HSG ACO Management: A New Way to Add Value

Post Written by Sarah Dunbar, Consultant

Leading an ACO is no small feat, with a long list of priorities pulling you in every direction. HSG can help teams cut through the noise, turn insight into action, and make a meaningful impact.

Current State of ACOs

ACOs have become a central force in the adoption of value based care, but with that influence comes more complexity than ever. Today, ACO leaders are juggling a lot, everything from managing contracts accross various lines of business and new CMMI models, to provider engagement, shifting risk adjustment rules, and constantly evolving performance measures. Keeping this on track while driving real outcomes takes more than strategy. It takes insight, execution, and the right support at every level.

At the same time, the tools to support ACOs have never been more sophisticated. Technology solutions have advanced rapidly, with AI-powered platforms offering new ways to analyze data and guide decisions. But with more data also brings new challenges. ACOs navigate a crowded technology marketplace, deciding which platforms to integrate for analytics, care coordination, and patient engagement. In addition, ACOs need to determine which data is actionable and how to apply it, based on their contracts, provider mix, and patient populations. For many organizations, these demands quickly exceed the capacity of internal teams.

Meanwhile, the bar for performance and shared savings has never been higher; changes in the programs offered by CMS and payer expectations are on the rise, making the playbook of the past unable to meet the performance expectations of the present. Increased competition in the risk-based ecosystem also means providers have more choices than ever and ACOs need to remain competitive to keep their providers engaged in the long term.

HSG’s History with ACOs

HSG has been helping ACOs tackle these challenges for years, turning complexity into clarity. Our experience spans every stage of the ACO maturity curve, and our expertise has been applied so organizations can focus on what matters most: improving patient outcomes while achieving sustainable performance. We have applied our expertise in concrete ways across strategy, operations, and performance improvement.

• Wide Experience: HSG has supported ACOs in all stages of matruity, from applying for federal programs and launch, through annual performance evaluation, reporting, and strategic repositioning across CMMI models.

• Data-Driven Insights: HSG leverages public and ACO-specific datasets to build custom playbooks, forecast performance, and identify actionable levers to improve financial and clinical outcomes.

• Operational Alignment: Our team excels at turning regulatory requirements into real-world workflows, technology systems, and patient engagement strategies. This ensures providers stay aligned with CMS program expectations and deliver consistent, high-impact results.

• Strategic Guidance: HSG supports ACO leadership in model decision-making, readiness planning, and compliance management to position ACOs for long-term sustainability and success. We’ve also helped ACOs merge, sell, and close when needed.
  
  

What Can HSG Do For Your ACO?

HSG offers three levels of ACO support designed to meet your organization where it is and help elevate performance through hands-on strategy, operations, and provider engagement. Whether you need high-level advisory or a full-service implementation partner, our team brings the expertise, insight, and execution muscle to help your ACO thrive.

• ACO Comprehensive: Executive-Level Management & Transformation Partner

  HSG acts as the ACO’s embedded transformation partner, responsible for strategic direction, operational execution, and performance. We function as an extension of the ACO executive team, driving continuous improvement across all dimensions of ACO operations.

• ACO Advanced: High-Touch Strategic & Operational Partnership

  HSG serves as a hands-on partner to help guide and support ACO leadership and staff, focusing on optimizing operations and scaling performance improvement efforts.

• ACO Core: Strategic Advisory & Technical Assistance

  HSG provides strategic direction and selective technical support to reinforce ACO operations. This level is designed for organizations with internal capacity that would benefit from high-level external guidance and targeted expertise.

Leading an ACO is complex, and HSG can partner with you to bring clarity, streamline operations, and support better outcomes. Whether you are looking for a strategic gut check or need to extend your ACO’s capacity with hands-on support, we are ready to partner with you. We would love to hear about your ACO and explore how we can help you achieve your goals.

For more information, please visit our ACO Management page or use the form below to contact us.

About the Author: Sarah Dunbar is a Consultant at Helgerson Solutions Group. Connect with her on LinkedIn.