Announcing the new CMS ACO Investment Model

Apart from creating the right culture and engagement from participating physicians, the second most difficult hurdle to overcome when creating a physician-led ACO is probably amassing enough capital. RGVHA got into the Advance Payment ACO model, but they were among the last to board that train. The program ended not long after they joined, but CMS is opening a new avenue to capital for some new MSSP ACOs.

In October 2014, CMS announced the ACO Investment Model, which will provide upfront investments in infrastructure for eligible Medicare ACOs. CMS intends the program to encourage new ACOs in rural areas and places with little ACO penetration. Eligible ACOs would begin participation in MSSP in January 2016 and would need to have a prospective Medicare beneficiary assignment of 10,000 or fewer. According to CMS, applications for the new ACO Investment Model will be available in the summer of 2015.

For more information, go to http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/ACO-Investment-Model/.