CMS Announces New Round of Applications for the Advance Payment ACO Model

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) is set to announce today it is testing the Advance Payment Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model for participants in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The Shared Savings Program provides incentives for participating health care providers who agree to work together and become accountable for coordinating care for patients. The Advance Payment ACO Model is designed to test whether physician-owned or rural providers participating in the Shared Savings Program would benefit from additional start-up resources to build the necessary infrastructure, such as new staff or information technology systems. Selected participants in the testing of the Advance Payment ACO Model will receive upfront and monthly payments, which they can use to make important investments in their care coordination infrastructures.  (more…)