Provider partnerships forged through accountable care organizations (ACOs) hit all of the marks for healthcare delivery reform set forth by the Patient Protection and Affordability Act (PPACA) and offer a key opportunity to boost revenue. With CMS set to release guidelines for Medicare ACOs under its Shared Savings Program and the NCQA polishing its ACO guidelines, it's not too early for healthcare organizations to assess market position and readiness for the ACO model and move quickly to improve profitability and market share. This resource answers key questions surrounding ACOs so that hospitals, PHOs, IPAs and other physician organizations, networks or group practices can weigh the merits now of creating an ACO and complete the necessary groundwork before CMS's ACO operation date of January 2012.