After being close to disowning it last year, the American Medical Group Association was back to touting its role in the creation of accountable care organizations at its annual conference last weekend in San Diego, and it even provided a little more context and back story—which included giving credit to a somewhat unlikely catalyst.
What George Roman, AMGA senior director of health policy, said and former AMGA Vice President of Public Policy Chet Speed later confirmed, was that, essentially, the ACO-creating provision might never have been included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act if it weren't for former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
So, even as his presidential hopes may be fading, his lasting influence might be found in the growing interest in accountable care.