ACO Options to be Explored by Two Texas Health Systems

Beathard stressed that the agreement is the beginning of a process to identify how the two health systems might work together.  "It's still possible that we won't find the right model or the projects."

The nonprofit hospitals systems already co-sponsor CareFlite, an air and ground medical transport, and participate in the North Texas Hospital Laundry Cooperative.

Both organizations have participated in ACO preparatory projects with Premier Inc., a national health care performance improvement alliance.

The 14-hospital Texas Health Resources includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist family of hospitals. It also includes the Texas Health Physicians Group.

The four-hospital Methodist Health System includes medical centers in Dallas, Charlton, Mansfield and Richardson. It also includes the MedHealth physician group.

See Also:
Leaders Respond to CMS' Proposed ACO Regulations
The Bridge to Accountable Care Organizations
AMA Releases ACO Guidelines