Value Based Purchasing and Health Care Reform

PCORI Names First Executive Director

A May 16, 2011 PCORI Press Release states:

“The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) announced today the selection of Dr. Joe V. Selby, M.D., M.P.H., as its first executive director. PCORI is an independent, non-profit organization created to provide patients and those who care for them information they can use to evaluate prevention, diagnosis and treatment options and make more informed health decisions.

. . .

As executive director, Selby will identify strategic issues and opportunities for PCORI and implement programs authorized by the PCORI Board of Governors. Building on the work of the Board and interim staff, Selby will create an organizational structure to carry out a national research agenda. He also will lead PCORI’s engagement of all participants in the U.S. health care delivery system, including patients, families and caregivers, to solicit input on PCORI’s health research and information programs.”

See the full Announcement (PCORI 5/16/2011)

For more information, visit the PCORI website.

 

Senators Express Concerns Regarding Proposed ACO Rule

On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, seven members of the Senate Finance Committee sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and CMS Administrator Don Berwick, M.D. regarding the ACO Proposed Rule (published in the April 7, 2011 Federal Register).  The Letter cites concerns raised by providers regarding the Proposed Rule and concludes that "the proposed ACO regulation will fail to accomplish its purpose."  The Letter requests that Secretary Sebelius and Dr. Berwick "withdraw this proposed rule and re-engage experienced stakeholders to craft a new rule that fulfills the promise of ACOs."  The Letter states that "more ACO-like coordination and collaboration among providers and beneficiaries is undoubtedly a worthwhile goal. ...  However, it is increasingly clear this proposed rule misses the target."

To see the full letter, click here.

CMS Announces Pioneer ACO Model Request for Applications

"The Pioneer ACO Model is a [Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation] initiative targeted at organizations that can demonstrate the improvements in financial and clinical performance with respect to the care of Medicare beneficiaries that are possible in a mature ACO."

For additional information, see the following links:

See the CMS Announcement: Medicare Program; Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model: Request for Applications (Federal Register) (5/20/2011)

Learn more about the Pioneer ACO Model on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation website.

ONCHIT Announces "Meaningful Use" Conference Call - May 19, 2011

Today, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announced that CMS will hold a national provider education call to provide an opportunity for eligible hospitals, CAHs and eligible professionals to learn about the meaningful use requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.  The call is scheduled for Thursday, May 19 at 2:30 p.m. EDT. 

Registration will close at 2:30 p.m. EDT on May 18, 2011, or when available space has been filled.

For more information or to register for the call, click here.

 

CMS Center for Innovation Announces ACO Initiatives

Today, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) held a conference call with CMS Administrator Donald Berwick and Innovation Center Acting Director Dr. Richard Gilfillan to discuss three new Affordable Care Act initiatives designed to improve care for Medicare beneficiaries through Accountable Care Organizations.  As described in the CMS Press Release:

1.  The Innovation Center is requesting applications for a new Pioneer ACO Model, which provides a faster path for mature ACOs that have already begun coordinating care for patients and are ready to move forward.

2.  The Innovation Center is seeking comment on the idea of an Advance Payment Initiative that give certain ACOs participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program access to their shared savings up front, helping them make the infrastructure and staff investments crucial to successfully coordinating and improving care for patients.

3.  Providers interested in learning more about how to coordinate patient care through ACOs can attend free new Accelerated Development Sessions.  The Accelerated Development Learning Sessions will teach providers interested in becoming ACOs what steps they can take to improve care delivery and how to develop an action plan for moving toward providing better coordinated care.

A recording of today's conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and providing the passcode: 68658167.  The recording will be available for two days.

FTC Announces Public Workshop on Antitrust and ACOs - May 9th

On Monday, May 9, 2011, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a workshop to seek input on the Proposed Statement of Antitrust Enforcement Policy, which discusses how the federal antitrust agencies will enforce U.S. antitrust laws when competing health care providers create new Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) under the Affordable Care Act of 2010. The Act encourages physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers to integrate their health care delivery systems in order to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care services for U.S. patients.

The workshop will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the FTC Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

For more information, see the FTC Antitrust and Accountable Care Organizations Workshop Announcement (5/2/2011)