Which statement describes a key feature of an ACO?

• A. Reliable reporting of measures to support quality improvement
• B. Requires exclusive government funding
• C. Does not involve collaboration with stakeholders
• D. Eliminates primary care

Answer: (C)

A key feature of an Accountable Care Organization is accountability for the cost and quality of care for a defined patient population, achieved through coordinated care and robust performance measurement. Reliable reporting of quality and cost measures is essential because it lets the ACO monitor performance, identify gaps, and drive quality improvement efforts. This data also underpins any shared savings incentives from payers and keeps providers focused on outcomes rather than volume.

Funding in ACOs isn’t restricted to exclusively government dollars; these arrangements typically involve Medicare, Medicaid, and often private payers, with payment tied to performance rather than a single funding source. Collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders is fundamental to ACOs, since coordinating care across primary care clinicians, specialists, hospitals, and sometimes social services is what enables better outcomes and cost control. Finally, ACOs aim to strengthen primary care, not eliminate it, because primary care is the anchor for coordinated, prevention-focused, and cost-effective care.