Medicare Debuts Another Primary Care-Focused Accountable Care Model
Medicare is trying again with another accountable care organization (ACO) payment model aimed at primary care doctors, but reactions to the new model are mixed so far. The voluntary model, known as ACO Primary Care Flex, would pay organizations that participate in Medicare’s Shared Savings Program a monthly fee that would be distributed to the […]
ACOs Fight Looming Cuts, Privatization Rhetoric
WASHINGTON — CMS officials responded to concerns from accountable care organization (ACO) leaders about growth, a substantial pending payment cut, and ideological opposition, speaking at the meeting of the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) here last week. During a question-and-answer session with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, NAACOS CEO Clif Gaus, ScD, said the administration’s goal […]
Rural ACOs Work to Overcome Challenges in Medicare Payment
Accountable care organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare program have had their share of challenges making their finances work, and nowhere is that more true than for rural ACOs. “Rural ACOs have found out that there are some big adjustments that need to be made to the risk adjuster,” including in Medicare’s new ACO Realizing […]