What's New

February 2013

On Tuesday February 19 the CMS Provider Communications Group will host a National Provider Call on PQRS and eRx Incentive Program. The call will cover topics on how to avoid a 2014 eRx and 2015 PQRS payment adjustment. Registration is required to attend this call.

CMS is hosting a ACA Implementation Update on Thursday February 14th and 2pm. CMS will review the Physician Sunshine Rule and provide an update on the outreach and enrollment efforts for the new Marketplaces and how health care providers fit into that work. The dial-in information to participate in the call is 888-455-2963 passcode: 2954962.

August 2012

On Wednesday, August 15, CMS is hosting a National Provider Call on New Medicare Preventive Services. CMS experts will provide an overview of these new services, when to perform them, who can perform each service, who is eligible, and how to code and bill for each service, followed by a question and answer session. The five new preventive services now covered by Medicare include:

  • Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse
  • Screening for Depression in Adults
  • Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease
  • Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and High-Intensity Behavioral Counseling (HIBC) to prevent STIs
  • Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Obesity

Registration is required.

July 2012

On Wednesday, August 1, CMS will be holding a National Provider Call: CMS Proposals for the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier Under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

On July 18, 2012 CMS announced 15 Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs that will be participating in the Advance Payment ACOs.

July 9, 2012 HHS announces 89 new accountable care organizations, located in 40 states and Washington, D.C., were set to treat some 1.2 million Medicare beneficiaries as of July 1. The additions announced Monday bring the total number of ACOs to 154 - including the shared savings program, the Pioneers and six physician group practice models, according to CMS.

June 2012

On Tuesday, July 31, 2012, CMS is hosting a National Provider Call, where subject matter experts will provide an overview and updates to the Shared Savings Program application and Advance Payment Model application processes for the January 1, 2013 Shared Savings Program start date. A question and answer session will follow the presentations. The Shared Savings Program Application and the Advance Payment Model web pages have important information, dates, and materials on the application process. Call participants are encouraged to review the applications and materials prior to the call.

Learn how to participate in the new Medicare Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative happening in your community: Conference call series the week of June 25

The Innovation Center is now accepting applications for the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative. The primary care practice solicitation describes the initiative eligibility and selection. Interested practices must first complete the Application Pre-Screening tool to receive further instructions on how to apply. If your primary care practice has multiple sites, each physical site that is located in the selected market is eligible to apply and must apply separately. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 mp ET on July 20, 2012.

On June 12, 2012 the Innovation Center announced that beginning August 1, 2012, it will be accepting applications for an additional round of Advance Payment ACOs that would begin on January 1, 2013. Organizations interested in the Advance Payment ACO Model should start their application process by submitting a Notice of Intent to apply for the Medicare Shared Savings Program performance period that begins January 1, 2013. This Notice of Intent is due June 29, 2012. Organizations that submit this NOI will then have the opportunity to submit applications to both the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Advance Payment ACO Model.

May 2012

On May 23, ACP hosted a conference call on the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative with Richard J. Baron, MD, MACP Group Director, Seamless Care Models, CMMI and selected geographic areas involved in the initiative.

April 2012

On April 10, 2012, CMS announced that 27 organizations have been selected to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The first performance period began on April 1, 2012. The agency also announced that five organizations will participate in the Advanced Payment ACO model.

February 2012

On Thu, Mar 1, 2012, from 1:30- 3PM EST, CMS is hosting a National Provider Call, where subject matter experts will provide an overview and updates to the Medicare Shared Savings Program application and Advance Payment Model application processes. A question and answer session will follow the presentations. In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. Registration will close at 12pm on the day of the call or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early. For more details, including instructions on registering for the call, please visit http://www.eventsvc.com/blhtechnologies.

  • CMS' slide show from the National Provider Call on the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Advanced Payment Model

December 2011

On December 19, 2011, CMS announced that 32 organizations have been selected to participate in the Pioneer ACO Model. The first performance period will begin on January 1, 2011.

November 2011

In November, 2011 the CMS Innovation Center announced a new Health Care Innovation Challenge that will award up to $1 billion in grants to applicants who will implement the most compelling new ideas to deliver better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs. Potential applicants must submit a letter of intent by December 19, 2011 in order to be eligible for a funding award.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced several key deadlines for prospective accountable care organizations (ACO) interested in applying for the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Advance Payment Model. Prospective Medicare ACOs interested in applying for the Shared Savings Program in 2012 can choose between two start dates: April 1 and July 1.

October 2011

On October 18, 2011 the CMS Innovation Center announced a new Innovation Advisors Program to help health professionals deepen skills that will drive improvements to patient care and reduce costs. The Innovation Advisors Program will support individuals who can test and refine new models to drive delivery system reform. The deadline to submit applications for the Innovation Advisors Program is November 15, 2011.