Attribution refers to the assignment of patients to primary care providers (PCPs) and their associated ACOs for the purpose of determining performance in value-based care contracts.
By identifying the PCP that Medicare or other payers view as the most responsible for the patient’s care and outcomes, payers can ensure that the correct physicians/NPs/PAs receive the health information to care for their patients, and receive credit for the patient care rendered. Attribution to primary care providers and ACOs can promote patient access to consistent primary care services, provide practices with greater financial opportunity in value-based contracts, and benefit society by reducing the rates of preventable diseases.