Summary of new ACO regulations

As you know by now, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued proposed rules that would implement Section 3022 of the Affordable Care Act. Section 3022 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Shared Savings Program by January 1, 2012. CMS notes that this program is intended to encourage providers of services and suppliers (e.g., physicians, hospitals and others involved in patient care) to create a new type of health care entity, which the statute calls an "Accountable Care Organization (ACO)."

Here is a good summary of the new regulations:

http://www.grantthornton.com/staticfiles/GTCom/Health%20care%20organizations/Washington%20Bulletin/2011/WB_Apr4_2011_CMS%20Issues%20Long%20Awaited%20ACO%20Proposed%20Rules.pdf?utm_source=Grant+Thornton&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Washington+Bulletin%