Changes in Medicare Shared Savings Program Savings From 2013 to 2014

Statistical uncertainty in the Medicare shared savings program.

OBJECTIVE Analyze statistical risks facing CMS and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) under the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). METHODS We calculate the probability that shared savings formulas lead to inappropriate payment, payment denial, and/or financial penalties, assuming that ACOs generate real savings in Medicare spending ranging from 0-10%. We also calculate expected paymen...

Medicare Shared Savings Program Second-Year Results: Predictors of Success

Background: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) to improve quality of care and reduce unnecessary costs.1 Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in MSSP are rewarded for meeting healthcare performance measures while controlling costs for their assigned Medicare beneficiaries. Methods: We examined the characteristics and quality metri...

The final rule on the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

The Affordable Care Act authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a Medicare Shared Savings Program that would create a new category of health care provider, called accountable care organizations (ACOs), in the Medicare program. On March 31, 2011, CMS released a proposed rule for implementing the new program and solicited public comment. On October 20, 2011, C...

Primary care focus and utilization in the Medicare shared savings program accountable care organizations

BACKGROUND Although Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are defined by the provision of primary care services, the relationship between the intensity of primary care and population-level utilization and costs of health care services has not been examined during early implementation of Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACOs. Our objective was to evaluate the association between primary ca...

Making good on ACOs' promise--the final rule for the Medicare shared savings program.