Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new Advance Payment Model for physician-based and rural Accountable Care Organizations selected to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The selected ACOs will receive advance payments that will be recouped from the shared savings they earn. Organizations interested in applying for the Advance Payment Model must complete separate applications for the Shared Savings Program and the Advance Payment Model.
Deadlines for the Advance Payment Model application are: April 1, 2012 start date (applications accepted between January 3 and February 1, 2012) or July 1, 2012 start date (applications accepted between March 1 and March 30, 2012). Only ACOs that enter the Shared Savings Program in April 2012 or July 2012 will be eligible for advance payments. For more information about the Advance Payment Model, visit the Advance Payment website.
