title: Future considerations for clinical dermatology in the setting of 21st century American policy reform: Accountable Care Organizations.
abstract: An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a network of providers that collaborates to manage care and is financially incentivized to realize cost savings while also optimizing standards of care. Since its introduction as part of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, ACOs have grown to include 16% of Medicare beneficiaries and currently represent Medicare's largest payment initiative. Although ACOs are still in the pilot phase with multiple structural models being assessed, incentives are being introduced to encourage specialist participation, and dermatologists will have the opportunity to influence both the cost savings and quality standard aspects of these organizations. In this article, part of a health care policy series targeted to dermatologists, we review what an ACO is, its relevance to dermatologists, and essential factors to consider when joining and negotiating with an ACO.
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: harrison.p.nguyen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Harrison P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Howard P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Jean L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bolognia
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Marta J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: VanBeek
mesh_terms: D060866:Accountable Care Organizations / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D017046:Cost Savings; D003880:Dermatology / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans; D017048:Health Care Costs; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare; D017146:Models, Organizational; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive; D014481:United States
keywords: Accountable Care Organizations; Affordable Care Act; health care reform; health policy; management