CMS issues final rule for Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released a final rule that makes technical changes to the way financial targets are calculated for accountable care organizations in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. CMS will account for differences in regional health care spending when updating ACOs’ financial targets, rather than considering only an ACO’s historical financial performance. As urged by the AHA, CMS will phase in the new methodology to allow ACOs time to adjust over several performance periods. CMS also finalized an option to encourage ACOs that renew participation in the MSSP to accelerate their acceptance of performance-based risk. For more information, see the CMS factsheet.