Allowing relatively small ACOs would enhance competition, but ACOs that are too small cannot be viable. At an Oct. 5 listening session on accountable care organizations, FTC representatives asked for feedback from a panel of stakeholders on how small ACOs…

At an Oct. 5 listening session on antitrust enforcement for accountable care organizations, FTC representatives asked a panel of stakeholders what financial incentives should ACOs work under in order to be granted antitrust waivers.

Cardiologists may have to quickly assess whether and how to align themselves with ACOs, said Steven Lieberman, formerly assistant director of the White House Office of Management and Budget and executive associate director of the Congressional Budget Office at MedAxiom's…

Like many other specialties, the practice of anesthesiology has suffered as of late due to reimbursement cuts, fear of malpractice and provider shortages. At the same time, technological advances are improving perioperative care and placing a greater emphasis on a…

At an Oct. 5 listening session on antitrust enforcement for accountable care organizations, FTC representatives asked whether possible waivers from antitrust laws should require ACOs to have certain basic attributes, such as use of electronic medical records.

FTC representatives asked stakeholders at an on Oct. 5 listening session on accountable care organizations whether planning for ACOs was the cause of the current upswing in mergers and acquisitions of both hospitals and physicians practices.

Fargo, N.D.-based Orthopaedic Associates and Sanford Health, also in Fargo, have completed their merger, according to a Sanford Health news release.

At federal regulators' listening session on accountable care organizations on Oct. 5, FTC representatives asked stakeholders whether antitrust enforcement should encourage providers to join more than on ACO.

1. While ACOs have been promoted as part of the Healthcare Reform Act for Medicare patients, and pilot programs are being established, the real movement with ACOs seems to be with commercial payors at the moment. Further, the acceleration of…

Don Berwick, MD, CMS administrator, Baltimore. Dr. Berwick has become a major player in the ACO world by virtue of overseeing implementation of Medicare ACOs at CMS. The agency is expected to release draft regulations on ACOs by the end…