Three Minnesota health care organizations will take part in a federal pilot program designed to improve the quality of health care for seniors by remaking the way physicians, hospitals and clinics get paid. Allina Hospitals and Clinics, Fairview Health Services and Park Nicollet Health Services are among 32 organizations in 18 states to be named as Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations…The Rochester-based Mayo Clinic, expected to be a key player in shaping ACO policy, opted out, as did other large health care systems, including the Cleveland Clinic and Intermountain Health Care, based in Salt Lake City. "We are pursuing a number of value-based payment options with various partners, but decided not to participate in the federal government pilot programs," Mayo Clinic spokesman Bryan Anderson said on Monday. Additional coverage: MPR
Star Tribune, by Jackie Crosby, 12/2011