NAACOS Asks HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to Grow Medicare ACO Programs

Mar 23, 2021 at 03:25 pm by Staff


The National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOS) in a letter sent today congratulated Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on his confirmation and recommends the following to help support ACOs and payment and delivery reform:

Statement attributed to Clif Gaus, Sc.D, President and CEO of the National Association of ACOs:

"Secretary Becerra inherits an HHS with fewer ACOs than the Obama administration left at the start of 2017. Reversing this trend should be a priority for him and his staff given the success ACOs have shown in reducing Medicare spending while improving quality and patient satisfaction.

"Since 2012, ACOs, including those in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, Next Generation ACO Model, and the now expired Pioneer ACO Model,have lowered Medicare spending by $8.5 billion and $2.5 billion after accounting for shared saving and loss payments and discounts to CMS. This doesn't include 'spillover' effects to Medicare Advantage or commercial insurance, which also measure in the billions of dollars annually. When compounded, these savings make an undeniable impression on our nation's out-of-control health spending.

"NAACOS congratulates Secretary Becerra on his confirmation and looks forward to working with him on growing Medicare ACO programs."

Sections: Regulatory/Compliance