The much anticipated release of the draft Accountable Care Organization regulations seems to have brought more questions than answers, so we put together our "Top 8" list of must-know facts about the proposed regs, writes David E. Kopans, associate at the healthcare practice Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey, in a Hospital Impact blog post. First, hospital CEOs should brace for significant start-up costs. The ACO regs are modeled in part after Medicare's Physician Group Practice demonstration project, in which practices reported nearly $500,000 in average start-up costs, and $1.2 million in operational first-year expenses. And compliance plans are a must, as CMS wants ACOs to develop rigorous compliance programs and have ACO board members adhere to a strict conflict-of-interest policy. --Read the full list at Hospital Impact