CMS Gathering Information From Hospitals & Physicians in Preparation for Medicare Accountable Care Organizations

OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Strategic Health Care News The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has started gathering information from hospitals and physicians in preparation for developing the Medicare Shared Savings Program that includes accountable care organizations (ACOs) and other payment reforms slated to start by January 1, 2012. Medicare ACOs and other payment reforms were authorized in the March 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as a way to improve outcomes and value for Medicare beneficiaries. As described in the PPACA, ACOs will be expected to facilitate coordination and cooperation among health care professionals . . .