ACO & Consumers With Complex Needs

At a conference a couple years ago, I remember talking with a health plan medical director about accountable care organizations (ACOs). Specifically, we discussed possible relationships between ACOs and organizations that specialize in serving the most complex consumers — the ones who have multiple chronic conditions and social support needs.

Her answer? It’s too early to think about it. Her explanation to me was that ACOs were just getting their bearings and had bigger fish to fry at the time. The ACO management focus was on controlling expenses on high-cost procedures.

But the times might be changing, if a . . .