NAACOS Releases ACO Cost and MACRA Implementation Survey

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) is pleased to release the results of our sixth ACO Survey available at www.NAACOS.com. This survey is extremely timely, as it focuses on ACO operational costs, ACOs' ability to take on downside risk, and the recently released Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule implementing provisions of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).

"This study raises very serious concerns about the long-term viability of the Medicare ACO program under the current risk models and proposed MACRA policies. We are hopeful the Administration will recognize the importance of ACOs in achieving the HHS value-based payment goals and adopt broader criteria for Advanced Alternative Payment Models under MACRA," said Clif Gaus, President and CEO of NAACOS.

NAACOS, with support from a nationally recognized consulting firm, designed the survey questionnaire to collect meaningful information from ACOs about their operating costs, willingness to accept downside risk, and considerations under MACRA. This survey answers key questions about ACOs such as:

• How much are ACOs investing?
• How much and how quickly are ACOs able to take on two-sided risk?
• How do ACOs feel about Track 1 being excluded from CMS's proposed list of Advanced Alternative Payment Models?

The survey included Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACOs that started between 2012 and 2016 and involved both NAACOS member and non-member ACOs. Out of the 433 current MSSP ACOs, 144 from 40 different states completed the survey. Clif Gaus commented, "We hope CMS will carefully consider this collective feedback as they plan policies affecting ACOs."

SOURCE National Association of ACOs

Related Links

www.naacos.com