CMS Removes COVID-19 Inpatient Treatment From ACO Performance Calculations

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an interim final rule to remove spending associated with individuals with COVID-19 from performance calculations for the Medicare Shared Savings Program. CMS is extending its mitigation of shared losses back to January 2020 and is providing flexibility for accountable care organizations to stay in their same risk track next year to help sustain participation in the program for 2020.

The interim final rule is to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on ACOs in advance of the deadline for the organizations to leave MSSP without financial penalty. The . . .