Q&A: Methodist Health CEO on an ACO Alternative

Q: What's at stake if ACOs don't succeed?

A: I don't want to come across as cynical. I think the ACO concept is a very valid construct that holds the most promise for us to be able to improve the value of healthcare in America of anything I've seen in my career but it's just a concept. We've got to tweak it until we get the methodology right.

My personal opinion is that we need ACOs to work. I hope we're all going to stay in the game and continue to move our organizations to make the moves that will help ACOs succeed.

If this doesn't work then there will be a dramatic reduction in reimbursements for Medicare because the program is running out of money.

Listen to an audio interview with Stephen L. Mansfield, PhD, president and CEO of Methodist Health System.