Complimentary from the publishers of Accountable Care News                  February 6, 2012
	"Many people agree that a neutral third party should vet ACOs to check that they have the capabilities needed to deliver against the Triple Aim. Most people recognize that ACOs are going to have different capabilities. As more organizations step up to take accountability, payers, employers and patients will need an efficient way to evaluate and compare ACOs. That’s what NCQA Accreditation does." Margaret E. O’Kane, President, National Committee for Quality Assurance
	The possible savings to Medicare CMS estimates that the Medicare Shared Savings Program will generate up to $940 million in net savings during its first four years, assuming that 270 ACOs sign up to participate. Whether this level of projected savings is optimistic, or conservative, remains to be seen. Excerpted from Health Policy Briefs: Accountable Care Organizations, Health Affairs Blog, January 31st, 2012
	Can insurers survive in an ACO-driven market? FierceHealthPayer, February 1, 2012
	How CMS’s Final Regulations for Accountable Care Organizations Fall Flat The Heritage Foundation, February 1, 2012
	Building Connections on the Care Continuum Health Data Management, February 1, 2012
	Physicians Pioneering the ACO: 5 Thoughts From Dr. Gene Lindsey of Atrius Health Beckers Orthopedic and Spine, January 25, 2012
	Can Accountable-Care Organizations Improve Health Care While Reducing Costs? Wall Street Journal, January 23, 2012
	Understanding accountable health care organizations The Boston Globe, January 9, 2012
	ACOs: The Latest Experiment In Health Care Delivery General Surgery News, January 2012
	How Can Nurses Be Best Utilized in ACOs? by Mary Jean Schumann, DNP, MBA, RN, CPNP Positioning Specialty Services for Accountable Care by Philip Ronning Editor’s Corner Report from the Field: Bellin-ThedaCare - David Krueger, MD ACO Reinsurance Options by Kathryn A. Bowen Thought Leader’s Corner: "How do you assess the legacy of Don Berwick’s tenure at CMS on health care policy and implementation?" Industry News with briefs regarding CMS; Urban Institute; American Health Lawyers Association; Congressional Budget Office; Stanford Clinical Evidence Research Center (CERC); ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value; Valley Health System; and AtlantiCare Catching Up with…. Margaret E. O’Kane Click here to view page one of this issue Click here to subscribe to Accountable Care News, or find out more
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