The currently proposed CMS rules and regulations for ACOs have led some organizations to take pause—particularly the proposal for sharing of losses in addition to savings and the ambitious IT requirements. The threshold to participate in the ACO program in January 2012 has been set high and many are asking themselves if they are ready to take the risk. Many are considering an alternative path to ACOs. This path considers other care delivery models as a road to ACO/managed care and as a means to build the competencies to be successful in the future.

This article by Michael J. Randall, M.H.A. and Guy M. Masters, M.P.A. from The Camden Group, provides boards with potential alternatives to ACOs and discusses how to view ACO development in the near future.