CMS Finalizes Rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program

On June 4, 2015, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule updating the terms of payment of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) that participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. According to CMS, the rule will encourage many key improvements within the program, including "increasing the emphasis on primary care services [...], streamlining data sharing [...], adding a new performance based risk option," and more. CMS estimates that, after having been presented with the new options, "at least 90% of eligible ACOs will renew their participation in the Shared Savings Program." Download CMS' final rule here, fact sheet here and press release here.