For ACOs, IT startup costs top $1M

The data requirements for launching an accountable care organization will cost smaller ACOs more than $1 million and large ones up to $4 million before they start operations, according to a Black Book survey that included 300 developing and established ACOs. The survey also reveals that 39% of ACO respondents plan to make most or all of their technology purchasing decisions before the third quarter of 2013. Twenty-eight percent of providers participating in ACOs say they already have their basic health information exchange (HIE) and interoperability strategies in place. The 2012 Black Book IT Yearbook for ACOs, which also ranks the top software and service vendors for ACOs, surveyed leaders of 1,100 healthcare organizations.