The History, Evolution, and Future of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations

Alongside its broad changes to the health insurance market, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) authorized the implementation of a wide variety of health care delivery system reforms. Perhaps the most notable of these reforms was the federal recognition of the accountable care organization (ACO), an entity that is responsible for achieving the “Triple Aim” of better health, improving patient experience, and lowering costs.1