The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a request for information for comments and ideas about accountable care organization (ACO) models, including whether CMS should fund another round of Pioneer ACOs, and what new or alternate ACO models CMS should consider funding. Given the mixed results of the first year of the Pioneer ACO program, it is interesting that CMS is now using a request for information/public input process to receive these ideas. The request for information includes 7 specific questions from CMS about the Pioneer ACO model and 25 specific questions about the “evolution” and design of ACO models that “encourage greater care integration and financial accountability”. CMS has authority under section 3021 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) to fund these types of innovations through its Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. Responses to the request for information are due March 1, 2014 and can be submitted online.
Ignatius Bau 