Presentation Summary: Palmer Evans, MD

 Palmer Evans, MD, from the Tucson Medical Center, is a Senior Advisor for the South Arizona Accountable Care Organization – one of three CMS ACO pilots. Dr. Evans provided an overview of ACOs, ACO development and Medicare trends that are driving the need for reform. He explained that within guiding principles, health care reform will require commitment, investment and risk. “In the end,” Dr. Evans said “improving collaboration, quality, efficiency and patient-informed choice are simply the right things to do.”