By Mike Segal

In the January 31, 2012, edition of Health Affairs, in a short article entitled “Next Steps for ACOs,” the author first summarizes prior attempts at physician/hospital coordination. He then discusses the Medicare Physician Demonstration Project, which was conducted between 2005 and 2010, and its promising results. Finally he expounds upon the current ACO Medicare model and its hopes and aspirations. Overall, it provides a simple review of how we got to ACOs and what they might portend. Please click here for the article.