Antitrust Implications of Clinically-Integrated Managed Care Contracting Networks and Accountable Care Organizations

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) established various mechanisms to make healthcare providers more accountable for both the cost and quality of the services they provide. One of these mechanisms is the establishment of a new class of Medicare provider-the Accountable Care Organization (“ACO”). An ACO is accountable for the quality, cost, and overall care for a defined set of Medicare beneficiaries.

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