title: Accountable care organizations in the era of healthcare reform.
abstract: Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010, Medicare providers, including physician groups and hospitals, will soon have the option to form accountable care organizations (ACOs) to improve quality and efficiency. ACO participants may share financial gains generated from improved clinical and economic performance, provided that quality goals and patient safeguards are met. Through future regulations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must implement the ACO option no later than January 1, 2012. In this interview, Dr Mark B. McClellan, former CMS Administrator and US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, discusses the extraordinary implications of the new ACO option for improving patient care and reducing unnecessary costs.