tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post3886172755202429670..comments2024-03-26T00:25:34.026-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: Is this what you call success?Paul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-811439164980648862015-05-07T14:11:06.760-04:002015-05-07T14:11:06.760-04:00I agree that CMS is desperate to say the ACOs are ...I agree that CMS is desperate to say the ACOs are a success and saving Medicare money. Since this is essentially a capitated risk program, it comes down to how much money CMS provides the ACOs in their annual risk budgets (it's a lot easier to take on risk with inflated budgets!). Seeing as Medicare Advantage programs take the "healthier" Medicare members out of the Medicare population you would assume the remainder (the ACO populations) are sicker and more expensive so it all comes down to the budget to care for these people. Also, would these "savings" go back to CMS, the ACOs or some type of split? Not really savings to Medicare if the ACOs come in under budget and keep the surplus money. This program is poorly designed.... auto assigned Medicare members to ACOs without their knowing and the patients can go to any Medicare provider or hospital. Hard to be at risk for a population that doesn't know they are in the product and can go anywhere they want. That is why I think the annual risk budget would be the key to making this program a "success" they can say is working. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com