The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) supports and recognizes the launch of the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) new accountable care organization (ACO) model. The new model, called the Next Generation ACO Model (NGACO Model), is comprised of twenty-one ACOs with significant experience coordinating care for populations of patients through initiatives, including, but not limited to, the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Pioneer ACO Model.
“Today is an important day for Medicare beneficiaries getting access to value-based telehealth care,” says Gary Capistrant, Chief Policy Officer, ATA. “We think all Medicare ACOs should be able to use telehealth to provide the Medicare range of coverage, and we hope that Congress and CMS will explore allowing more use of innovation to serve better Medicare beneficiaries.”
ATA strongly supports CMS’ shift to value-based care and reimbursement and as a platform for allowing providers to create value using telehealth. CMS approving the twenty-one Next Generation ACOs to do more with telehealth is instrumental in Medicare beneficiaries receiving premier access to value-based telehealth care.
An overview of the new ACO model can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2016-Fact-sheets-items/2016-01-11.html
