Dive Brief:

• Deloitte ranks number one when it comes to helping healthcare organizations develop strategies to build accountable care organizations (ACOs), according to UT-based research firm KLAS.
• The KLAS report "ACO Advisory Services 2014: Navigating the Unchartered Territory of Accountable Care," evaluates seven firms against three categories: strategy development, readiness assessment and implementation. The ratings are based on interviews with 41 healthcare organizations working to implement value-based care models.  
• KLAS credits Deloitte for having "deep healthcare resources" and for being "superb in guiding some of the most progressive clients and most complex projects in strategy-development work." It also notes that "customers express most confidence in moving forward with created strategy/infrastructure."

Dive Insight:

Transitioning into an ACO is tough work with many parties involved, so any consulting firm that helps healthcare organizations do this well should be cheered. But that's the easy part. Deciding what kind of ACO to form is a bit more challenging, as organizations have to weigh risk and reward potential, as well as evaluate what will work best in their individual market. 

CMS recently unveiled a new rule to strengthen its ACO program, promising "a greater emphasis on primary-care services and promoting transitions to performance-based risk arrangements." The ACO 2.0 program offers a bit more flexibility for parties, as well as an expansion of care-coordination tools. However, those changes don't come without some costs, too.