CMS Releases Proposed Rule on Accountable Care Organizations

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the long awaited proposed regulations for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).  As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, CMS was instructed to release regulations for the creation of a new care delivery and payment system known as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The new proposed regulations could have a significant  impact on the way anesthesiologists deliver care and receive payment. 

The new proposed regulations are more than 400 pages and CMS has provided a 60-day comment period on the proposed regulations. Once the proposed regulations are analyzed, ASA will send a comment letter to CMS outlining ASA’s concerns and recommendations for changes to the proposed regulations.

ASA’s ACO Task Force has been preparing for the release of these proposed regulations.  The Task Force and staff will be analyzing the proposed regulations to determine the potential impact on anesthesiologists.  As analysis occurs, ASA will be continuously providing information to ASA members on these proposed regulations.