MedeAnalytics Releases Analysis of Public Comments on ACO Proposed Rule

EMERYVILLE, Calif., June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, disseminated today a report which analyzes the leading healthcare constituencies' recommendations on the major factors of the accountable care organization (ACO) economic model as presented in the proposed rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

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The proposed rule was released on March 31, 2011, and the public comment period ended on June 6, 2011. The MedeAnalytics report identifies nine elements of the program that function as the primary drivers of the Medicare ACO business model. In addition, it presents the respective positions on these elements of seven nationally recognized healthcare constituencies: the American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, the American Medical Association, the American Medical Group Association, the Medical Group Management Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, and Brookings-Dartmouth.

"While there has been some rhetoric in the media about scrapping the entire ACO program as laid out by the proposed rule, the seven constituent organizations presented recommendations to revise, not repeal, the program," commented Ken Perez, who directs MedeAnalytics' healthcare policy team and serves as the company's senior vice president of marketing.

All seven organizations recommended a significant reduction to the 65 quality measures in the proposed rule (with the 32 measures of the Physician Group Practice Demonstration often cited as a preferred measure set), as well as a gradual phase-in period. A majority of the organizations urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make the financial terms of the ACO program more attractive, with calls for a standard, flat Minimum Savings Rate, increases to the maximum shared savings rate, the elimination of withholding of a portion of the earned performance payment by CMS, and creation of a separate model without downside risk.  

To download the complete report, including a table summarizing the recommendations of the seven organizations for the major financial aspects of the proposed rule, visit MedeAnalytics' ACO Resource Center at www.medeanalytics.com/aco.

About MedeAnalytics

Founded in 1994, MedeAnalytics delivers performance management solutions across the healthcare system—including hospitals, physician practices and payers—to ensure accountability and improve financial, operational and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.medeanalytics.com.

For more information:
Bruce Lewis
Lewis & Summers Public Relations
(707) 813-1197
[email protected]

SOURCE MedeAnalytics