Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): Accountable Care Organizations

An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a type of healthcare delivery model in which a group of healthcare providers, such as hospitals, primary care physicians, and specialists, work together to coordinate and provide care for a specific patient population. The goal of ACOs is to improve the quality of care and reduce healthcare costs by aligning the financial incentives of the healthcare providers with the health outcomes of the patients they serve.

ACOs typically use a ““shared savings”” payment model, in which the healthcare providers share in any savings that result from providing more efficient and effective care. ACOs also typically use data and analytics to track the health of their patient population, identify high-risk patients, and intervene early to prevent or manage chronic conditions.

ACOs have been implemented in various forms such as Medicare and Medicaid ACOs, commercial ACOs, and provider-led ACOs. They have been implemented with the intent of improving quality and reducing costs, though the results have been mixed.