CMS issued its final rule regarding Accountable Care Organizations. This final rule includes multiple modifications to the proposed rule that CMS issued in March. The central idea is that providers will voluntarily come together - in order to get paid - as Accountable Care Organizations (ACO's). They will provide care for a geographical region, and contract for services like ambulance transport, hospitalization, primary care doctors, etc. Attached is an article and chart published by Acting CMS Administrator, Don Berwick in the New England Journal of Medicine. (forwarded by Shawn Rogers)

Download: New_England_Journal_of_Medicine.pdf