Performance Year 2018 Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs Announced

January 2018 ~

CMS has released the updated Accountable Care Organization (ACO) list for the 2018 performance year of the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).

561 ACOs will participate in the MSSP this year, serving 10.5 million assigned beneficiaries. Of those 561, 124 are new ACOs, 65 renewed contracts, and 372 will continue with the program but are not up for renewal.

101 of the 561 Medicare ACOs in the program in 2018 are in a downside risk-based contract. 55 of these participants (10%) have enrolled in CMS’ Track 1+ Model, a new option for 2018 that offers assume limited downside risk, 46 participants (8%) will participate in Tracks 2 and 3 of the program, in which they may share in savings or repay financial losses depending on performance (Track 2: 8 ACOs and Track 3: 38 ACOs).

According to CMS, the number of ACOs in the program rose from 480 in 2017 to 561 in 2018.

“ACOs play a critical role in transforming our nation’s healthcare system through value-based care,” said Clif Gaus, president and CEO, National Association of ACOs, in a statement. “The growth of ACOs in 2018 shows the continued commitment from the administration to increase value in the Medicare program through ACOs.”

Source(s): Data.CMS.gov; Modern Healthcare; FierceHealthcare; AJMC;