Obamacare-like groups tied to lower costs: study

By Andrew M. Seaman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Large independent doctor practices that focus on primary care tend to spend less money and are more likely to meet guidelines for Americans on Medicare than smaller groups, according to a new study. The findings suggest that the so-called Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) created by the 2010 Affordable Care Act may improve the quality of care while lowering spending, said the study’s lead author. “I think our analysis is sort of searching for pockets of excellence and seeing whether those pockets of excellence echo the ACOs. …