Section 3022 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandates the creation of the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The Shared Savings Program establishes the goals of providing better care, improving population health and lower growth in expenditures.
Final Rules for the program were released on October 20, 2011, and published in the Federal Register on November 2, 2011. The application and instructions for the Medicare Shared Savings Program can be found on the CMS website, https://www.cms.gov/sharedsavingsprogram/37_Application.asp#TopOfPage.
Application Timeline:
Notice of Intent
The first step in the application process is to submit your Notice of Intent (NOI) to Apply to the Shared Savings Program. After completing this form, CMS will assign you an ACO identification number. The NOI must be completed by 5 pm EST on January 6, 2012, for the April 1, 2012 program start date and by February 17, 2012, for the July 1, 2012 program start date.
Obtain a CMS User ID
Following the submission of your NOI form you will receive a confirmation e-mail from CMS containing your ACO ID and instructions on how to complete the CMS User ID application. Without these two ID numbers you will not be able to fully access the modules of the 2012 program application.
Complete the CMS User ID form and return it to CMS via tracked mail no later than January 12, 2012, for the April 1, 2012 program start date and no later than February 23, 2012, for the July 1, 2012 program start date.
Apply for the Shared Savings Program
Once both ID numbers have been received complete the application packet found on the CMS website, https://www.cms.gov/sharedsavingsprogram/37_Application.asp. The application is due by January 20, 2012, for the April 1, 2012 program start date and by March 30, 2012, for the July 1, 2012 program start date.
Applications will be approved or denied no later than March 16, 2012, for the April 1, 2012 program start date and by May 31, 2012, for the July 1, 2012 program start date.
If your application is denied you may request a CMS reconsideration review. This request must be made within 15 days of the date of your denial letter.
Any questions regarding the Medicare Shared Savings Program Application can be directed to [email protected].
