Disease-Specific ACOs Make Their Debut

Circle Connections: Mergers & Acquisitions A small number of entities are testing the accountable care organization concept, originally designed to improve care and reduce costs for populations of primary care patients, on groups of people with high-cost diseases such as cancer or end-stage renal disease. For instance, Florida Blue, formerly Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, announced Dec. 20, 2012, the launch of an ACO for cancer patients cared for by the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla. This was the second such project of this type by the insurer. The first, with Baptist Health South Florida . . .