Some local thoughts on ACOs

A Minneapolis hospital and California physician group association react to the ACO regulations.

Minnesota Public Radio: Minn. Hospital Tries New Health Care Approach
Accountable Care Organizations appear to have two main ingredients — better coordination of patient care, and financial incentives for doctors and clinics based on whether patients improve. ... Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis has begun to move down a more coordinated care path with staff members called care guides — people who check in with patients between doctor visits. ... Dr. Penny Wheeler, Allina's chief clinical officer, said ... patients working with care guides to manage high blood pressure found their control of the condition improved by 30 percent (Stawicki, 3/31).

California Healthline: State Is 'Ready, Willing and Able'
"This is a promising new day for seniors in California," according to Donald Crane, President and CEO of the California Association of Physician Groups. ... "We know all about ACOs because we have ACOs already. We've got capitation, and that is the accountability for cost, and we have a longstanding pay-for-performance program, and that's the accountability for quality. So we have the twin pillars for accountability right now," [Crane said]. That means California is more likely than other states to move smoothly and quickly into ACOs (Gorn, 4/1).