Research Alert: June 13, 2016

Medicare Accountable Care Organizations: Beneficiary Assignment Update

We report on significant Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulatory changes to beneficiary assignment to Accountable Care Organizations (ACO). Changes include prospective rather than retrospective assignment, will increase the likelihood beneficiaries receiving services only from certain non-primary care specialists are appropriately assigned. The regulations also improve the ability for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to participate in ACOs.

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More information about the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
• More information from the Rural Health Information Hub's topic guides: Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics