By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Are ACOs the New HMOs?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > Are ACOs the New HMOs?
BusinessHealth ReformPolicy & Law

Are ACOs the New HMOs?

Abby Norman
Abby Norman
Share
4 Min Read
ACOs and HMOs
SHARE

ACOs: The New HMOs? 

Historically, HMOs are notorious for incurring poor health among patients and bolstering already bloated administrative costs. When healthcare reform was on the horizon, the promise of Accountable Care Organizations in lieu of traditional HMOs lifted the wilted spirits of doctors and patients alike. A few years of ACOs, however, seems to have done little to assuage the initial fears of these groups that ACOs are just nicely dressed HMOs.

Contents
  • ACOs: The New HMOs? 
  • ACOs: The New HMOs? 
  • Change Is Never Easy. 
  • Are ACOs More Concerned With Patients? 
  • Everyone Is Talking About ACOs.
  • What are your thoughts? Do you think ACOs are just another HMO? 

ACOs: The New HMOs? 

Historically, HMOs are notorious for incurring poor health among patients and bolstering already bloated administrative costs. When healthcare reform was on the horizon, the promise of Accountable Care Organizations in lieu of traditional HMOs lifted the wilted spirits of doctors and patients alike. A few years of ACOs, however, seems to have done little to assuage the initial fears of these groups that ACOs are just nicely dressed HMOs.

ACOs and HMOs

Too Cost-Concerned? 

A major concern has been that both HMOs and ACOs focus too much on how physicians will be paid and not enough on how patients will get the care they need. It seems counterintuitive that patient care would take a back seat to anything, but the theory at present is that by increasing provider incentives and reforming the payment systems, patients will ultimately be better served.

Change Is Never Easy. 

That being said, change is never easy. Not for the physicians and payers, and certainly not for patients. By enacting and committing to a sense of transparency with all the changes on the healthcare horizon, the hope is that patients will acquire some faith and trust in the healthcare system: a trust that needs be restored after at least a decade of obstructed views.

More Read

Good News and Bad News for Young Medical Professionals
The Importance of Seeking Immediate Medical Attention after a Health-Related Accident
Making a 5% Commitment to Medicaid
Why Every Hospital Should Be Doing Search Engine Marketing
Is IRO Right for You?

Are ACOs More Concerned With Patients? 

On the surface, it appears that many of the incentives that existed in HMOs have manifested themselves in the ACO blueprint. Digging a little deeper, however, the ACO seems to have developed a much broader consciousness around the evolving needs of patient populations. While it’s true that sicker, chronically ill patients will always drive up premiums, instead of focusing on solely finding and paying for the healthiest patients, action is in place to improve population health overall. This way, more patients are healthy, or their chronic conditions managed, than not. This benefits everyone: physicians, payers and patients.

Everyone Is Talking About ACOs.

While this is still a theory more than a practice, the idea has permeated public awareness and discussions are cropping up more and more readily. Taking to social media, hashtags of #ACO #MCO and #Healthcare have become proliferated and now, more than ever, the great healthcare debate is not just water-cooler conversation, but now one that families have around the dinner table as well. With patients taking on more and more responsibility for their care and demanding more transparency from payers and physicians, the time for change has arrived.

Patients are, contrary to popular belief, ready to see change. The question is, can the payers and physicians deliver real change, or will ACOs just be a dolled-up version of the same old HMO?

What are your thoughts? Do you think ACOs are just another HMO? 

TAGGED:ACOsHMOs
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Abby Norman
My name is Abby Norman and I am a healthcare blogger. With over 10 years of experience in the medical field, I have developed a passion for helping others understand the complexities of healthcare.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

The Curious Case of Testosterone

March 14, 2012

Sharing Is Caring: Pediatric Hospitals Work Together for Innovation, Commercialization

November 15, 2013
23andMe FDA warning
DiagnosticsMedical EthicsMedical InnovationsPolicy & LawWellness

BioPharma Beat: 23andMe – Now What?

December 4, 2013
Health Reform

Meaningful Use Criteria and the ACO

September 28, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?