CMS Holds Open Door Call on ACOs
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is a new engine for revitalizing and sustaining Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and was established by the Affordable Care Act. The Innovation Center has the resources and flexibility to rapidly test innovative care and payment models and encourage widespread adoption of practices that deliver better health care at lower cost.
On Thursday, January 5th the Center is holding an Open Door Forum on the Advance Payment Model. You can participate in the forum by teleconference from 2:30-4:00 pm EST and is for physician-based and rural ACOs wanting to learn more about participating in their Medicare Shared Savings Program. Last Fall CMS announced their new Advance Payment Model. ACOs selected to participate will receive upfront payments, recouped from the shared savings they earn.
The teleconferece will review the CMS application process. You can view a template of the application for the Advance Payment ACO Model on the new CMS Innovation website.The updated information on this page explains the application process and how to obtain login credentials for a future CMS web tool. CMS has made it clear that this template is for information purposes only. They will begin accepting applications through their forthcoming web tool.
CMS lists these key dates and deadlines:
- For April 1, 2012 Start Date:  The online application will become available for use on January 3, 2012 with final submitted applications accepted through February 1, 2012.
- For the July 1, 2012 Start Date: The online application will become available for use on March 1, 2012 with final submitted applications accepted through March 30, 2012.
The number and teleconference ID number to join is 1-800-837-1935, ID number of 39623933.
Expect the slideshow presentation for the teleconference to be posted on the CMS Advance Payment Model ACO Application webpage by the 5th.
You can also view all of the Innovation Center’s upcoming events.