On October 5, 2010, the FTC, CMS, and the OIG are holding a workshop on accountable care organizations (ACOs). These organizations, authorized by the ACA, are designed to deliver high-quality and efficient health care services to consumers. The workshop is intended to assess how the variety of possible ACO structures in different health care markets could affect the prices and the quality of health care delivered to privately insured consumers, as well as to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The workshop also will address antitrust, physician self-referral, anti-kickback, and civil monetary penalty considerations associated with the various ACO models, and whether safe harbors, exceptions, exemptions, or waivers from these laws may be warranted. Physicians, physician associations, hospitals, health systems, payers, consumers, and other interested parties are invited to participate in the workshop. The deadline for registration and submission of comments to be considered for discussion at the workshop is September 27, 2010.  The workshop is scheduled to be webcast.