Emerging Healthcare Organizations: Accountable Care Organizations

Emerging Healthcare Organizations: Accountable Care Organizations
The new healthcare reform legislation has proposed the implementations of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) as a way to increase efficiency and value , while decreasing the cost of delivering healthcare services. While the success of implementing an ACO model is yet uncertain, and procedural and legal issues must be resolved, early pilot operations appear to have given some insight into the potential benefit that ACOs could have on the healthcare system. (Read more...)

PDF Icon Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act
The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA), which was passed on July 22, 2010, is targeted at reducing wasteful spending by identifying government programs that are susceptible to significant improper payments and requiring that corrective plans to alleviate the problem. IPERA is projected to eliminate $50 billion in wasteful spending by 2012 by expanding current government program auditing processes to better identify programs that are susceptible to improper payments. (Read more...)

PDF Icon Small Federal Anti-Kickback Statute: No Private Cause of Action
There is no private right of action provided by the federal Anti-Kickback Statute or Stark Law according to a June 30, 2010 ruling by a Texas District Court in the matter of Gaella, et al. v. Citizens Medical Center, dismissing the claim of plaintiff cardiologists who alleged that Citizens Medical Center denied the cardiologists clinical privileges at CMC in response to a CMC board resolution that would no longer allow cardiologists that did not participate in CMC�s on-call emergency room coverage program to practice as a part of the CMC cardiology department. (Read more...)

HCC Background
Founded in 1993, HCC has developed significant research resources; a staff of experienced professionals with strong credentials; a dedication to the discipline of process and planning; and, an organizational commitment to quality client service as the core ingredients for the cost-effective delivery of professional consulting services. HCC has served a diverse range of healthcare industry & medical professional clients in over 45 states including hospitals & health systems (both tax exempt & for profit); outpatient & ambulatory facilities; management services organizations; clinics, solo & group private practices in a full range of medical specialties, subspecialties & allied health professions; managed care organizations; biotechnology and pharmaceutical ventures; ancillary service providers; disease management firms; Federal and State agencies; public health and safety agencies; other related healthcare enterprises and agencies; and, these clients� advisory professionals, e.g., their consulting, legal and accounting firms.