A difference is, ACOs are more truly integrated compared to HMOs. The ACOs integration is accomplished through organizational structure and through sharing of electronic records, neither of which were common with early HMOs. There is now more information about how to manage care than there was in the early days of HMOs. ACOs can take advantage of health care guidelines, quality metrics and knowledge about patient costs. Finally, there is an increased emphasis on measurable outcomes, which will help ACOs reach performance goals and benchmark their performance. ACOs like HMOs do not rely on full capitation. Instead, they usually put providers at risk for a portion of the cost of care; that risk is shared with insurers, somewhat sidestepping a…