Section 3022 of the Affordable Care Act requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to establish a shared savings program on Jan. 1, 2012, that would:
Aim to supply better care for individuals
Provide better health outcomes for patients
Lower per capita costs
Encourage investment in healthcare infrastructure
To participate in the shared savings program, eligible providers, hospitals and suppliers may create or join an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). An ACO encourages providers of services and suppliers to create a new type of health care entity that agrees to be held accountable for improving the health and experience of care for individuals and improving the health of populations while reducing the rate of growth in health care spending.
ACO Resources