The impact of accountable care organizations on spine care

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purpose of this manuscript is to describe the origins of accountable care organizations and summarize their impact on spine care. FindingsThe unmitigated rise in capital expenditures for health care services in the latter half of the twentieth century gave rise to the development of cost-saving measures, including accountable care organizations. These have shown modest cost savings and improvements in quality measures but have largely ignored surgeons and surgical care. ConclusionsAs alternative payment models expand, spine surgery will be targeted for improvements. Spine surgeons should be involved in the structuring of those efforts.