Last week the Federal Trade Commissioner (FTC) J. Thomas Rosch remarked that accountable care organizations (ACOs) could lead to more expensive health care and lower quality of care. Specifically, he said, “The net result” of ACOs, “may therefore be higher costs and lower quality health care—precisely the opposite of (PPACAs) goal.”
ACOs are the health law’s main tool for supposedly making the US health care system more efficient. The program seeks to reward health systems that improve patient care through better coordination between physicians, hospitals and other health care providers, through an estimated 100 to 200 ACOs.
Looks like even PPACA supporters are starting to change their tune and show significant concern for the regulation and implementation of ACOs.
HHS released the final ACO rule in October.