CMS Releases Proposed Rules for Accountable Care Organizations

On March 31, 2011, CMS released its proposed rules for public review and comment relating to Medicare payments for health care providers participating in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).  Under the proposed rules, health care providers participating in ACOs would be eligible to receive additional Medicare payments based on meeting certain specified quality and savings requirements in addition to receiving traditional Medicare fee-for-service payments under Medicare Parts A and B.

The proposed rules are available here and will be published in the Federal Register on April 7, 2011.  A fact sheet published by CMS which provides a summary of proposed rules is available here.  If you would like further information about ACOs, please contact Dave Schoolcraft or Elana Zana.