This report from the National Academy for State Health Policy explores the role that Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) can play in increasing quality and decreasing costs in our health care system. The report examines ACOs in seven states, focusing primarily on the steps that states can take in supporting the development and success of these organizations.

From the report:

Lack of care coordination and wide disparities in the cost and quality of care are pervasive problems in the U.S. health care system, perpetuated by the prevailing fee-for-service payment method. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and the enormous opportunities available to states to transform the health care delivery system, the accountable care organization (ACO) model is receiving increased attention for its potential to promote better value in health care spending without some of the perceived problems of past approaches. ACOs provide incentives to manage utilization, improve quality, and harness cost growth using a shared-savings model.

Full Report: On the Road to Better Value: State Roles in Promoting Accountable Care Organizations (PDF | 535 KB) 

National Academy for State Health Policy. (2011). On the road to better value: state roles in promoting accountable care organizations. Purington, K., Gauthier, A., Patel, S., and Miller, C.