Accountable Care Organizations - Resources

Definition:  An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a local entity and a related set of providers, which can include primary care physicians, other specialists, and hospitals, that are held accountable for the cost and quality of care delivered to a defined subset beneficiaries or other defined populations, such as commercial health plan subscribers.

AAFP’s Frequently Asked Questions about ACOs (AAFP Website)
Or view PDF File on Everything You Need to Know About ACOs

Resources for the AAFP Member

National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) materials on its new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Accreditation program

AAFP Article:  Academy Creates Summary to Help FPs Manage Information Overload on ACOs

The AAFP and six Chapters have worked together with the law firm Smith Anderson to develop two papers on Accountable Care Organizations and options to affiliations.

The Family Physician Practice Affiliation Guide (PDF)

The Family Physician's ACO Blueprint for Success - Preparing Family Medicine for the Approaching Accountable Care Era (PDF)

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Other Resources

AAFP Summary:  Medicare Shared Savings Program: Accountable Care Organizations Final Rule (PDF)

AAFP and Other Primary Care Organizations’ Joint Principles for ACOs (PDF)

AAFP ACO Task Force Report - 2009  (PDF)

AAFP Issue Brief – June 2010 (PDF)

The Role of Physicians in Accountable Care Organizations - MMA hosted program

MMA Issue Brief on ACOs (PDF)