$114 Million CMS Incentive Driving Record Sign-ups for Rural ACOs

NEVADA CITY, Calif., April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rural community health systems and independent physicians from across the country have until Friday, May 1, 2015 to indicate their interest in participating in a rural ACO in 2016 and to qualify for special, one-time only, federal grant funds that can cover the full cost of membership for new applicants in the year ahead.

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With the April 16 passage of the "Doc Fix" legislation, Congress has now set into law how doctors will be reimbursed from Medicare and Medicaid, moving away from traditional fee-for-service medicine in favor of pay-for-performance measures based on overall community health.

"It's a game changer," said National Rural ACO Chief Executive Lynn Barr.  "We have community hospital CEOs and CFOs contacting us from all over the country to learn more about how they can take advantage of this very special one-time offer from CMS and to get on board our successful rural ACO program."

May 1, 2015 is the deadline for rural hospitals, independent physicians and healthcare systems to sign up to join a rural ACO. The fastest, easiest way to complete the required application letter on time is to go to the www.nationalruralaco.com website and click on the Apply Now button. The application is non-binding, but for those who miss the approaching May 1 deadline, there may be no other opportunity to qualify for the one-time grant funds from CMS.

Accountable Care Organizations are groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers who come together voluntarily to give coordinated high-quality care to their Medicare patients. Many rural providers believe they cannot participate in these programs because of cost, the limited numbers of beneficiaries or because they will be forced to take downside risk. National Rural ACO has developed a program that allows rural RHCs, FQHCs and hospitals to join regardless of size and with no downside risk. The program is a bonus program only and does not affect fee-for-service payments or cost-based reimbursement in any way.

National Rural ACO is working with rural health care providers across the country who are ready to join the movement to Accountable Care Organizations that improve the sustainability of healthcare systems through better health outcomes, better patient experience and lower costs, which result in higher payments.

Contact:
Georgia Green
P.O. Box 1330
Nevada City, CA 95959
Email
Phone: 916.500.4777

SOURCE National Rural ACO

Related Links

http://www.nationalruralaco.com