HHS News Release (3/31/2011): "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released proposed new rules to help doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs create incentives for health care providers to work together to treat an individual patient across care settings – including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The Medicare Shared Savings Program will reward ACOs that lower health care costs while meeting performance standards on quality of care and putting patients first. Patient and provider participation in an ACO is purely voluntary."
HHS News Release: Affordable Care Act to improve quality of care for people with Medicare (3/31/2011)
Read the ACO Proposed Rule (published in Federal Register on April 7, 2011): Medicare Program; Medicare Shared Savings Program: Accountable Care Organizations (Comments due by June 6, 2011)
Read the Federal Trade Commission/Department of Justice Proposed Statement of Antitrust Enforcement Policy Regarding Accountable Care Organizations Participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (3/31/2011) (Comments due by May 31, 2011)
Read the IRS Guidance and Solicitation of Comments (Notice 2011-20) (Comments due by May 31, 2011)
