CMS today unveiled a new, $114 million investment initiative for Shared Savings ACOs, prompted by efforts to improve coordination and health IT efforts.
Specifically, the new ACO initiative is geared toward the more rural and underserved regions, with the $114 million going toward 75 ACOs across the country, according to CMS.
Overseen by the CMS Innovation Center, the funding will go toward IT infrastructure and redesigned care processes for eligible ACOs.
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
From CMS:
Participation in the ACO Innovation Model will be limited to two distinct groups:
New Shared Savings Program ACOs joining in 2016 – The ACO Investment Model seeks to encourage uptake of coordinated, accountable care in rural geographies and areas where there has been little ACO activity, by offering pre-payment of shared savings in both upfront and ongoing per beneficiary per month payments.
ACOs that joined Shared Savings Program starting in 2012, 2013 and 2014 – The ACO Investment Model will help ACOs succeed in the shared savings program and encourage progression to higher levels of financial risk, ultimately improving care for beneficiaries and generating Medicare savings.
CMS is accepting applications for the ACO Investment Model between Oct.15 and Dec. 1 for ACOs that started in the Medicare Shared Savings Program in 2012, or 2013. The application period for ACOs that started in 2014 or will start in 2016 will open in the summer of 2015.
