Implementing Accountable Care Organizations

Accountable Care Organizations are groups of health care providers that agree to be held accountable for improving patient health while lowering health care costs. Providers in ACOs have financial incentives for achieving these goals, which makes ACOs a powerful tool for improving the quality of care more broadly.

Advocates can help ensure that ACOs meet patients’ needs and are accountable to the communities in which they are located. These briefs examine the challenges advocates face when working with policy makers, insurers, and providers to develop patient-centered ACOs that deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.