CMS gives Essentia Health ACO nod

%he Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Essentia Health, along with 88 other organizations, to a list of accountable care organizations (ACOs). ACOs that succeed in reducing the rate of growth in the cost of care while continuing to provide high quality care will share the savings with Medicare.  Located in Duluth, Essentia Health is comprised of a combination of ACO group practices, critical access hospitals, and a rural health clinic, with 1,404 physicians. The new ACO will serve Medicare beneficiaries in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. The complete list of recently approved ACOs is available online.