CMS: Accelerated Development Learning Program June 20 & 21, 2011

Day 1: ACO Formation: Leadership and Priority Setting On Day 1, presentations and discussion will emphasize the importance of understanding patient populations, market environment and the core functions of an ACO as a starting point that will guide ACO formation and provider relationships. The plenary, case studies and team based exercises will show how data …

ACO’s: If You Build ‘em, Will They Come?

Even the models for health reform hate the new HHS rule. The Obama Administration is handing out waivers far and wide for its health-care bill, but behind the scenes the bureaucracy is grinding ahead writing new regulations. The latest example is the rule for Accountable Care Organizations that are supposed to be the crown jewel …

ACO’s, CMS, and ‘Tea Leaves’

Not sure what the latest count is on the comments to the ACO NPRM, see submitted comments on anti-trust enforcement, here, but amidst the range of direct commentary, and downstream banter, the following read is proferred: the stakeholder community (broadly cast) is rather, uh hum, ‘engaged’. It’s been said, the opposite of love is not hate, …

ACO: The Narrative Unfolds (Consumer v. Provider?)

This is an abstract of the article posted on KHN News titled: ‘ACO Defenders Emerge As Comment Period Ends‘. Editors note: now the conversation begins in earnest. The bottom-line question seems to be ‘how much GDP do they need’? Meanwhile, in other health law implementation news, timing issues related to Department of Health and Human Services …

ASCO Comments on ACO Rule

By Allen S. Lichter, MD, CEO, American Society of Clinical Oncology Dear Administrator Berwick: I am pleased to submit these comments on behalf of the America Soceity of Clinical Oncology(ASCO) in response to the recent notice of proposed rulemaking regarding accountable care organizations (ACOs) and the Medicare Shared Savings program (MSSP).1 ASCO is the national organization …

Of ‘…Nattering Nabobs of Negativism…’

By David Harlow There has been a significant outcry against the proposed ACO regs: everything’s wrong and nothing’s right about them, or so some would have us believe.  (The comment period is still open, and CMS is still soliciting input; much of the outcry is a form of posturing and negotiation … not that there’s anything wrong with that.) …

ACO Industry Stakeholder ‘Outrage’ | Theatrics or Substance?

By Gregg A. Masters, MPH Re-framed title: ‘CMS, ACO’s and ‘The Grapes of [special interests] Wrath?’ In the United States of Amnesia (“USA”), we seem to be drawn to a regular if not somewhat addictive ‘blame game’ pastime.  Watching the post ACO Notice of Proposed Rule release commentary, and subsequent update by CMS announcing the …

World Congress Leadership Summit on ACO’s: A Recap

By Gary Baldwin, Health Data Management Blogs I spent two days last week at the World Congress Leadership Summit on Accountable Care Organizations and my mind is just now recovering. As far as speaker quality goes, this conference (which offered concurrent tracks on ICD-10 and Meaningful Use) was top-notch, with dozens of speakers from hospitals, …

Healthcare Experts Weigh In On ACO’s

By Karen Minich-Pourshadi, for HealthLeaders Media  If you feel as though just about every week or so something new comes out involving accountable care organizations, you’re not mistaken. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced two initiatives related to the ACO model: The ACO Pioneer Program and the Advanced Payment Initiative. So, what do …

CMS Announces Request for Applications on ACO ‘Pioneer Program’ and More..

Just off the phone listening to Drs. Berwick, Gilfillan, and Jonathan Blum CMS conference call on ACO’s. According to CMS, the call replay is available ‘for the next two days’, via: 800.837.1935, use code: 68658167, held on 5/17/at 11 1:30 ET.  We’ve recorded the session and it will be available via ACO Watch: A Mid-Week Review …