The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Jan. 11 announced 121 new participants in Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiatives designed to improve the care patients receive in the health care system and lower costs (100 ACOs joined the Shared Savings Program and 21 joined the Next Generation ACO model). With this announcement, ACOs can now be found in 49 states and Washington, D.C.
The Next Generation ACO Model is a new CMS initiative that builds upon the experience of the Pioneer ACO Model and the Shared Savings Program. The new model enables providers and beneficiaries greater opportunities to coordinate care and includes a prospectively set benchmark, allows beneficiaries to choose to be aligned to the ACO, and tests beneficiary incentives for seeking care at Next Generation providers, including increased availability of telehealth and care coordination services.