123 new ACOs start up this week

Physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers have formed 123 new accountable care organizations (ACOs) that began operating January 1, providing approximately 1.5 million more Medicare beneficiaries with access to high-quality coordinated care across the United States, the Department f Health and Human Services announced. The new ACOs represent a cross-section of healthcare providers and include those delivering care in underserved areas.

More than half of all ACOs nationwide are physician-led organizations serving fewer than 10,000 beneficiaries. Approximately one in five 5 ACOs include community health centers, rural health clinics, and critical access hospitals that serve low-income and rural communities. Organizations interested in participating in the Shared Savings Program can apply next summer for programs that begin in January 2015.