Nearly one-fifth of surveyed clinicians participate in an accountable care organization, while many more plan to join one within the next year, according to a new survey.

The research from Decision Resources, a research and advisory firm for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that about half of all surveyed primary care physicians and endocrinologists expect to participate in an ACO next year.

"The expected growth of ACOs is quite staggering as both managed  care organizations and physicians appear to be buying into the core concepts of ACOs and, in many ways, we're just now seeing the tip of the iceberg for ACOs," says Roy Moore, Decision Resources Product Manager. "The emergence of ACOs is now upon us and these entities will present challenges and opportunities for the drug industry. A focus on costs and generic prescribing targets could harm branded therapies, but a push for drug compliance and screenings may increase the number of patients taking specific medications."