InformationWeek: Many observers still wonder whether the Supreme Court will squash key provisions of the Affordable Care Act later this year. But the fact is that right now critical elements of healthcare reform are unfolding quickly. And health IT CIOs are painfully aware that many of these elements require fast action by their departments.

Accountable care organizations--groups of hospitals, doctor practices and other healthcare providers working together to deliver coordinated patient care-- are the buzz words in healthcare reform. ACOs, which are already sprouting up across the country, involve new payment models that replace traditional fee-for-service with bundled, shared savings and population-based payments, and require intense focus on quality, performance, patient outcomes, and reduced costs.

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