Rural Hospitals Face May 1st Deadline For ACO Sign-Up

NEVADA CITY, Calif., April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Time is running out for rural hospitals and healthcare systems to sign up to join the National Rural ACO and to qualify for special, one-time only, federal grant funds that can cover the full cost of membership for new applicants in 2016.

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"Hundreds of rural health systems have expressed interest in joining the National Rural ACO this year," said National Rural ACO Chief Executive Lynn Barr.  "This is a unique opportunity to join a proven and successful rural ACO model that will position community health systems for the future; teaching them how to get paid more under the new value-based reimbursement models, while improving care for their community."

Watch this video from the National Rural ACO for more information about becoming an ACO and the path to a sustainable future for rural healthcare organizations.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has committed $114 million dollars in grant funds to help rural health providers make the transition to an accountable care organization in 2016.

The deadline for consideration is May 1, 2015. 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 1st deadline there may be no other opportunity to qualify for the one-time grant funds from CMS.

Accountable Care Organizations (ACO's) 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 healthcare providers across the country who are ready to join the movement to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that improve the sustainability of healthcare systems through better health outcomes, better patient experience and lower costs, which result in higher payments. Visit www.NationalRuralACO.com to learn more.

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