8 ACOs worth a closer look

CMS released its first list of 27 qualified ACOs that meet the requirements of its Medicare Shared Savings plan. As of July 1, HHS announced that 89 new accountable care organizations have begun serving 1.2 million Medicare patients in 40 states and Washington, D.C. That's not to suggest that the feds have a monopoly in this space. In total, Leavitt Partners estimates there were 221 private and public ACOs in the U.S. as of the end of May 2012. This overview of how eight ACOs are treading these uncertain waters might help inform your own decision.