On Dec. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new draft rule on the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). View this fact sheet from CMS for more information about the proposed rule.

Briefly, CMS is proposing a number of modifications to the Medicare Shared Savings Program, including:

• Allowing for an additional 3 year agreement period containing no downside risk but with a lower shared savings payment potentials (40 percent);
• Adding a third track with prospective attribution and greater risk and savings potential;
• Updating the Minimum Savings Rate and Minimum Loss Rate for Track 2 to mirror Track 1;
• Changing the beneficiary assignment methodology;
• Clarifying some ambiguities in the rule;
• Improving data sharing and reducing administrative burden.

In addition, CMS is seeking comments on alternative methodologies for benchmarks.

The proposed rule is open for a 60-day comment period. The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is reviewing the draft rule, and will include an analysis in the next Bulletin.