MDMA Statement on Final ACO Rule Issued by CMS

CMS issued its final rule for accountable care organizations (ACOs) today, and various stakeholders are providing mixed reactions.
 
"While we continue to examine this rule, it appears that these regulations could thwart what the Affordable Care Act was intended to accomplish:  ensuring patients have access to innovative and life saving therapies and technologies," said MDMA President and CEO Mark Leahey.  "There also appears to be perverse incentives for physicians and other providers that could limit patient access to what may be their best treatment options.  At the end of the day, regulations that fail to consider the long-term value of medical technology do more harm than good."
 
ACOs are currently scheduled to be implemented in January 2012. They are designed to be cooperative organizations made up of physicians, hospitals and other providers that would work together to coordinate care for patients.