title: Gastroenterologists and accountable care organizations.
abstract: Within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is a provision setting up a program for the implementation of accountable care organizations (ACOs). This article explains the proposed ACO model and discusses major implications regarding this model of health care reform including the following: What will it take to implement the program successfully? What are the opportunities for savings under the model? What are the potential downfalls of the program as proposed? What impact would the implementation of an ACO have on the practice of gastroenterology?
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA 17822-2111, USA. mkomar@geisinger.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komar
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patten
mesh_terms: D060866:Accountable Care Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017046:Cost Savings; D005762:Gastroenterology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational