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Medicare Shared Savings Program
ACO Name and Location
Essentia Health ACO Inc.
Previous Names: Essentia Health
502 E Second Street
Duluth, Minnesota 55805
ACO Primary Contact
| Primary Contact Name | Jessica Martensen |
|---|---|
| Primary Contact Phone Number | 218-786-6611 |
| Primary Contact Email Address | [email protected] |
Organizational Information
ACO participants:
| ACO Participants | ACO Participant in Joint Venture |
|---|---|
| Bridges Medical Center | No |
| Innovis Health, LLC | No |
| Brainerd Medical Center, Inc. | No |
| Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center | No |
| St. Joseph's Medical Center | No |
| St. Mary's Medical Center | No |
| First Care Medical Services | No |
| Graceville Health Center | No |
| Northern Pines Medical Center | No |
| Deer River Healthcare Center, Inc. | No |
| The Duluth Clinic, Ltd. | No |
| St. Mary's Regional Health Center | No |
| St. Mary's Hospital of Superior | No |
| Essentia Health - Moose Lake | No |
| SMDC Medical Center | No |
| Pine Medical Center | No |
| Essentia Health Virginia, LLC | No |
ACO governing body:
| Member | Member's Voting Power - Expressed as a percentage or number | Membership Type | ACO Participant Legal Business Name/DBA, if Applicable | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | Title/Position | |||
| Cathy | Cantor, MD | President | 0% | Other | N/A |
| Taylor | Mertz, MD | Member | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | Innovis Health LLC |
| Jan | Baldwin, MD | Member | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | Essentia Health Virginia LLC |
| Sheila | Hart | Member | 10% | Medicare Beneficiary & Community Stakeholder | N/A |
| Michael | Sterns,MD | Member | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | St. Mary's Hospital Superior |
| Sarah | Nelson, MD | Member | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | SMDC Medical Center |
| Michael | Haarstad, MD | Member | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | SMDC Medical Center |
| Adam | Riutta, MD | Member | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | St. Mary's Medical Center |
| Krista | Skorupa, MD | Chair | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | SMDC Medical Center |
| Robert | Green | Treasurer | 0% | Other | N/A |
| Michael | Watters | Secretary | 0% | Other | N/A |
| Devendranath | Mannuru, MD | Member | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | Innovis Health |
| Tricia | Brein, MD | Member | 10% | ACO Participant Representative | St. Mary's Regional Health Center |
Key ACO clinical and administrative leadership:
| Dr. Cathy Cantor | ACO Executive |
|---|---|
| Dr. Sarah Nelson | Medical Director |
| Leah Schroeder | Compliance Officer |
| Jessica Martensen | Quality Assurance/Improvement Officer |
Associated committees and committee leadership:
| Committee Name | Committee Leader Name and Position |
|---|---|
| ACO Finance Committee | Margareth Ranheim, VP Population Health Finance and Analytics |
| ACO Quality Committee | Jessica Martensen, VP Population Health Care Management |
| Essentia Health Compliance Committee | Torri Schramm, Chief Compliance Officer |
Types of ACO participants, or combinations of participants, that formed the ACO:
- ACO professional in a group practice arrangement
- Hospital employing ACO professionals
- Critical Access Hospital (CAH) billing under Method II
- Rural Health Clinic (RHC)
Shared Savings and Losses
Amount of Shared Savings/Losses:
Our ACO has not yet received financial reconciliation results; therefore, this section is not applicable at this time.
Shared Savings Distribution:
Our ACO has not yet received financial reconciliation results; therefore, this section is not applicable at this time.
Our ACO re-entered the Shared Savings Program in Performance Year 2025 under agreement period 4.
Shared savings/losses and shared savings distributions are therefore reported, beginning with this agreement period.
Quality Performance Results
2024 Quality Performance Results:
Our ACO did not participate in the Shared Savings Program in this performance year, therefore, this section is not applicable at this time.
Payment Rule Waivers
- Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) 3-Day Rule Waiver:
- Our ACO uses the SNF 3-Day Rule Waiver, pursuant to 42 CFR § 425.612
- Payment for Telehealth Services:
- Our ACO clinicians provide telehealth services using the flexibilities under 42 CFR § 425.612(f) and 42 CFR § 425.613.