In a cautionary reply to a new medical society report embracing accountable care organizations (ACOs) and bundled payment – two key reforms embedded in the Affordable Care Act – a team of prominent health researchers charge that history is about to repeat itself, to the detriment of both patients and physicians.

“Let’s hope that Orwell’s memory hole remains in good repair,” write Drs. David Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler, alluding to the machine in George Orwell’s novel “1984” that incinerated memories of things more conveniently forgotten.