August 14, 2018 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a long-awaited proposed rule that would revamp the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Among key changes, the rule reduces the amount of time ACOs can spend in upside-only arrangements (where they are eligible to share in savings but not at risk for repaying the government if they overspend their targets). The rule also reduces the amount of savings an organization can share in when participating in an upside-only arrangement, and it proposes implementing several provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, including expanded use of beneficiary incentives, telehealth, and other flexibilities.
