Pictures often do a better job explaining than words do. With that in mind, this infographic explains the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule change to increase the financial risk doctors and hospitals participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program take on in order to increase accountability of health care quality and spending for patients.
Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) — groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers who work together to coordinate care for Medicare patients they serve — can volunteer to participate in the program for at least three years and can carry varying amounts of financial risk for inpatient and outpatient care spending provided to Medicare beneficiaries.
