In the near term, there is likely to be a range of ACO models, Dr. Crosson predicted. Some will be tightly constructed around integrated delivery systems in which physicians and hospitals are part of the same economic entity. Other will be looser models that bring together a group of physicians and hospitals that are financially separate from one another, he said.
The real question, Dr. Crosson noted, is not whether various models can be designed, but which ones will work best. And for that, he said, only time will tell.
Naseem S. Miller contributed to this report.