This Is The Year Obamacare Takes On Out-Of-Control Health Care Costs

Write down the date. 2012 is the year that some of the more ‘behind the camera’ aspects of the Affordable Care Act will begin to take effect—measures that are designed to primarily impact on the high cost of medicine. Thus, while the measures may not score big headlines, 2012 could well prove to be the most important time frame in the effort to get control of the out-of-control costs that are destroying the American health care system.

Accountable Care Organizations – On January 1, the financial incentives designed to inspire health care providers to form Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) took effect.

The idea behind an ACO is to bring a number of health care providers, providing different services and specialties, together to better coordinate the care a Medicare beneficiary receives for a variety of conditions. By doing this, the hope is that duplication can be avoided and the improved communication among these providers will increase quality of care and outcomes...