CMS Announces Changes To ACO Investment Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced changes to the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Investment Model. The modifications are aimed at helping rural areas and small group practices participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The ACO Investment Model is designed to help provide support to organizations whose ability to invest in infrastructure and redesigned care processes would be improved with additional access to capital. In regards to the modifications, CMS will allow ACOs starting in the MSSP in 2015 to apply in the application round and will remove the 10,000 or fewer assigned beneficiary eligibility criteria . . .