What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Primary Care (PC) Flex Model, a new voluntary payment model that will test how prospective payments and increased funding for primary care in ACOs impact health outcomes, quality, and costs of care.
What else to know: CMS will launch the model on Jan. 1, 2025.
The ACO PC Flex Model will focus on primary care and target low-revenue Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) participants, which are typically smaller ACOs primarily made up of physicians.
CMS expects to select 130 ACOs for participation. Selected ACOs will receive a one-time advance shared savings payment and monthly prospective, population-based payments called prospective primary care payments. The participating ACOs — whether new or existing — will jointly participate in the MSSP in addition to the ACO PC Flex Model.
CMS will accept applications starting May 20. ACOs need to apply to the MSSP first (for both new ACOs and those renewing) before applying to the ACO PC Flex Model.
Additional information is available on the model web page. For updates on the model, please register for the model listserv.
CMS will host a public overview webinar at 11 a.m. (PT) on April 4. Registration is required.
Questions about the model can be submitted to ACOPCFlex@cms.hhs.gov.
