December 30, 2011 — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that on Jan. 1, 2012, it will launch a new Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) initiative to test the effectiveness of particular payment arrangements in providing beneficiaries with better care experiences through ACOs, while also reducing Medicare costs.

The Obama administration has focused on ACOs as a new way to control spending in traditional Medicare.

Under this initiative, 32 "pioneer" ACOs in 18 states will promote team-based care and will be

rewarded by Medicare based on how well they are able to both improve the health of their Medicare patients and lower their health care costs. HHS said in its news release, "The pioneer ACO initiative will encourage primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals and other caregivers to provide better, more coordinated care for people with Medicare and could save up to $1.1 billion over five years.”

To read more, click here. For more information on how to get involved in an ACO, click here.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.org