The Economics Of ACOs

The New York Times: Small-Picture Approach Flips Medical Economics
A.C.O.'s, as they are known, are collections of medical providers who band together under one business umbrella. The organization can include primary care doctors, specialists, social workers, pharmacists and nurses. The difference is in how these providers are paid: Instead of an insurance company or the government reimbursing each provider for each service provided to each patient, the A.C.O. is paid simply to care for a group of patients (Japsen, 3/12).