Allina tries new health care approach

[Minnesota Public Radio, March 31, 2011] The Obama administration has filled in some of the blanks in a key part of the health care overhaul.

The administration proposed rules Thursday to define Accountable Care Organizations, which are meant to save hundreds of millions of dollars in the Medicare program while improving quality for patients.

ACOs are still largely theory. No one seems to be able to define them in less than 100 words. That's because there can be as many variations of them as there are doctors and clinics.

Minnesota Public Radio interviewed Allina's Chief Clinical Officer Penny Wheeler, M.D., about ACOs and two Allina care guides. Listen to the story below and read more at mpr.org.