AHA-supported bill would fix Medicare ACO benchmarking flaw

Jun 15, 2021 - 02:03 PM
senate-legislation-update

A coalition of 13 health care organizations, including the AHA, today voiced support for the Accountable Care in Rural America Act, bipartisan legislation that would revise the benchmarking formula for the Medicare Shared Savings Program to ensure participating accountable care organizations have an equal opportunity to share in savings regardless of their geographic location.
 
“This legislation fixes an important flaw in the current MSSP benchmarking methodology – a flaw that systematically disadvantages many ACOs, including a high proportion in rural areas, and makes it harder for them to achieve savings even when they improve quality and reduce costs,” the groups said in a letter of support for the bill, introduced last week by Reps. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas; Suzan DelBene, D-Wash.; Mike Kelly, R-Pa.; Ami Bera, D-Calif.; Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz.; Terri Sewell, D-Ala.; Neil Dunn, R-Fla.; and Lance Gooden, R-Texas.
 

Related News Articles

Headline
House Ways and Means Committee advances its portion of FY 2025 reconciliation bill 
The House Ways and Means Committee today advanced its portion of the fiscal year 2025 reconciliation bill by a 26-19 vote along party lines, following an hours…
Headline
AHA comments on House Ways and Means Committee markup
The House Ways and Means Committee May 13 began to mark up its portion of the fiscal year 2025 reconciliation bill, with some proposals impacting the health…
Headline
Study finds social factors explain poorer cardiovascular health in rural areas 
A study published March 31 by the National Institutes of Health found that adults living in rural areas have worse cardiovascular health than those in urban…
Chairperson's File
Chair File: Leadership Dialogue — Importance of Advocacy and Storytelling in Rural Health with Lori Wightman, R.N., CEO of Bothwell Regional Health Center
Public
Rural hospitals and health systems face big challenges, but together — with a unified voice — we can work to ensure people living in rural communities get the…
Headline
AHA podcast: Critical Condition — Cybersecurity in Rural Hospitals with Microsoft, Part 2
John Riggi, AHA national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, and Justin Spelhaug, corporate vice president and global head of Tech for Social Impact at…
Chairperson's File
Chair File: Rural Health — Caring for Our Neighbors
Public
I’ve often said that rural health care is about family. We take care of each other and our communities as best as possible. Rural hospitals and health systems…