“Medicare’s largest ACO (accountable care organization) initiative—the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP)—generated gross savings of $1.84 billion for Medicare from 2013 to 2015, nearly double the $954 million estimated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), according to a new analysis from the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) and Dobson Davanzo & Associates.”
“It appears to be especially noteworthy that the study, which NAACOS officials attest is the largest ever of ACO performance based on Medicare claims, greatly contrasts with CMS’ analysis that ACOs increased Medicare spending by $344 million over the three-year time span…”
“To this point, in a recent proposed rule that has so far been met with varying degrees of scrutiny, CMS is proposing to shorten that glide path for new ACOs to assume financial risk, reducing time in a one-sided risk model from the current six years to two years. This proposal, coupled with CMS’ recommendations to cut…” Read the full article here.
Source: Leading ACO Group: CMS is Calculating ACO Savings the Wrong Way – By Rajiv Leventhal, September 11, 2018. Healthcare Informatics.