Longitudinal Interoperability for ACOs

Beyond the Snapshot:
Why ACOs Need Longitudinal Interoperability

Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) thrive on data — but too often, they’re working from incomplete pictures. Most systems show only a “snapshot” of patient health, based on claims or episodic encounters.  What ACOs really need is the full story: a connected, longitudinal view of every patient’s care journey. That’s where longitudinal interoperability comes in — giving ACOs continuous access to clinical, claims, and patient-generated data that reflects real-world health, not just what’s billed.

Why the Snapshot Isn’t Enough

Traditional interoperability allows for data exchange between systems, but it often stops at the edges of individual encounters or payer networks.
This fragmented approach leads to:

• Missed opportunities for early intervention
• Inaccurate risk stratification
• Gaps in quality reporting and coding
• Frustration among care teams trying to reconcile incomplete information

In value-based care, where performance depends on outcomes, this lack of visibility can directly affect both clinical and financial success.

The Power of Longitudinal Interoperability for ACOs

Longitudinal interoperability changes that. It means ACOs can:

• See the entire care journey. Access claims, lab results, prescriptions, and encounter data from all participating providers.
• Identify risk earlier. Spot rising-risk patients before conditions escalate.
• Improve quality measures. Capture complete documentation for HEDIS, MIPS, and shared savings programs.
• Enhance care coordination. Eliminate redundant tests and streamline transitions across settings.

It’s the difference between managing a moment and managing a population.

A Competitive Advantage in Value-Based Care

As CMS continues to push interoperability and data transparency through regulations like payer-to-payer exchange and Patient Access APIs, ACOs that leverage longitudinal data gain a measurable advantage. They can benchmark outcomes more accurately, negotiate contracts more effectively, and deliver the kind of proactive care that drives shared savings. In short — better data means better performance.

Building an Interoperable Future

For ACOs, adopting longitudinal interoperability isn’t just about compliance. It’s about sustainability. By unifying data streams across EMRs, HIEs, and payer sources, organizations can achieve a truly integrated view of patient health — one that supports quality, cost, and patient experience simultaneously. The future of accountable care depends on seeing beyond the snapshot.

ACO success depends on visibility — and visibility depends on interoperability. Longitudinal interoperability gives ACOs the ability to act, not just react, by connecting every touchpoint in the patient journey. When every provider sees the same story, care becomes coordinated, proactive, and precise.

Explore the Health Access Card and see what true connectivity looks like
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