CMS announces 58 ACOs participating in Next Generation
The highest-risk Medicare program has grown from 27 providers when it started in 2016.
The Department of Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington, D.C. Credit: Matthew G. Bisanz
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced on Thursday 58 providers are participating in the Next Generation ACO program.
In 2017, 45 organizations signed up for Next Generation, which was 17 more than during the first year of the program in 2016. Three dropped out during the first year, but three-quarters earned payments for 2016.
[Also: CMS announces 45 ACOs are now participating in Next Generation model]
Medicare's highest-risk model qualifies as an advanced alternative payment model under MACRA. Its benefit enhancements waive certain Medicare rules for telehealth, post-discharge home visits and the three-day skilled nursing facility rule.
The Next Generation model rewards hospitals that assume higher levels of financial risk and reward than other models such as the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
The goal is to test whether strong financial incentives can improve health outcomes and lower expenditures than under Medicare fee-for-service.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com
