Choose ACO consultants with caution

It's become a little joke in the healthcare industry that ACO actually stands for "any consultant's opportunity." But as a recent article in American Medical News points out, it's important for practices to hire the right adviser for the job, if they determine they really need extra help starting or joining an accountable care organization at all.

Physicians who are able to devote 5 percent to 10 percent of their time investigating their practice's ACO options can likely go it alone, Justin Barnes, vice president at Atlanta health information technology company Greenway, told amednews. He recommended that physicians use free resources from the American Medical Association or Medical Group Management Association to obtain much of the same information they might get from a consultant.

For physicians who choose to outsource ACO legwork, experts advised caution. Because the concept is so new that no one truly knows all of the ins and outs, be leery of any consultant or even attorney who bills themselves as an expert in ACOs, said Jenny Wang, a San Francisco-based healthcare attorney.

Rather, look for a lawyer or consultant knowledgeable in the variety of healthcare topics, including those involved in ACOs, such as tax codes and antitrust rules, Wang said.

To learn more:
- read the article from amednews

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