The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Washington, DC, has convened a multi-stakeholder Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Task Force to help develop a consensus on ACO qualifying and monitoring criteria. ACOs are provider-based organizations that establish accountability for both the quality and costs of healthcare for a defined population.
The ACO builds on the patient-centered medical home, which minimally includes primary care and may include subspecialists and hospitals. By coordinating and integrating care, policymakers hope ACOs can simplify the care process for patients, enhance quality, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. Under the new health-reform law, groups of providers who voluntarily meet certain criteria, including quality measurement, may form ACOs and share in the cost savings they achieve for public purchasers. For more information, click here.
