New rules for ACO's and healthcare IT

On 3/31, the Feds released their new rules for Accountable Care Organizations. A number of articles have been written about these rules, how they will impact healthcare and IT shops, as well as every American.

An article on The Health Care Blog by Margalit Gur-Arie reviews the privacy rules for ACOs. The topic takes up about 5% of the entire package of rules, which is interesting in and of itself. Big news, ACOs ill be able to share personally identifiable health information from Medicare claims UNLESS patients opt out. Not a good thing.

A second article on the same blog by Vince Kuraitis is a more general review of the entire package... Here are his initial impressions:

1. The bar has been set high...very high. Tire kickers need not apply.
2. Don’t expect to see many or any small ACOs.
3. Patients will be confused by ACOs.
4. Concerns over maintaining competition and avoiding antitrust are being taken seriously.
5. CMS scores points for coordinating the ACO Rule across Federal agencies.
6. CMS loses points for micromanagement and a controlling mindset.
7. Possible losers — hospitals, ACO vendors.
8. Possible winners — physicians, health plans.

Okay, so patients will be confused at first, but will they be winners or losers?