In This Issue:

- CMS Finalizes ACO Program Rules; Scales Alternative Payment Model

- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

- Federal Regulatory Initiatives

- Congressional Initiatives

- Other Health Care News

- Upcoming Congressional Hearings

- Excerpt from CMS Finalizes ACO Program Rules; Scales Alternative Payment Model:

On June 4th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule updating the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), addressing many industry concerns ranging from an extension of the one-sided risk track to changes to the beneficiary assignment methodology. The final rule also paved the way for the first expansion of a delivery reform pilot, known as the Pioneer ACO model, under authority granted to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

After releasing the initial MSSP regulations in 2011, CMS proposed certain refinements to the program by way of a proposed rule in December of 2014. The final rule released last week implements many of these refinements, while also addressing the over 250 comments that CMS received regarding the proposed rule. The final rule clarifies and codifies existing guidance in a number of areas, including...