Thomas Merrill Identifies Challenges Associated With Accountable Care Organizations

Not surprisingly, Thomas Merrill, lead researcher, Center for Accountable Care Intelligence, Leavitt Partners, LLC, said that cost is a major work flow challenge associated with Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Newly developed information systems are expensive to develop and maintain within an ACO. Mr Merrill said that regional health insurance exchanges have had a difficult time self-sustaining due to high costs. “If all organizations in a given area are at risk for the cost of care for a given population, there will be mutual back scratching,” said Mr Merrill. ACOs, however, can provide the opportunity to share data with these at-risk organizations. There is mutual benefit in sharing patient information.