http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/aco-inside-report-details-challenges-of-regulatory-headwinds/426663/

• A new report from Aledade, a company that helps physicians form and operate accountable care organizations (ACOs), says its groups have successfully increased primary care utilization and revenue, decreased lab and imaging costs, and decreased emergency department and hospital utilization and readmissions.
• The findings were shared to provide a “frontlines” perspective on the challenges and lessons learned in delivering value as a Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACO.
• The report calls out “regulatory headwinds” that it says are currently working against ACOs in the program, including the national benchmark used to determine savings. Although the implementation of regional benchmarking will provide a more accurate measurement in years 4-9, in the meantime it still leaves some ACOs facing a longer stretch of time to achieve financial success.