Yesterday the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services formally announced the 106 new Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in the 2013 Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) cycle.  CMS also announced that 15 of the new ACOs qualified to participate in the Advance Payment ACO Model.  This brings the total count of MSSP ACOs to more than 250:  215 in the traditional MSSP and 35 participating in the Advance Payment program.

Overall, the growth in the program has been substantial:

• April 2012: 27 ACOs with five in the Advance Payment program
• October 2012: 89 ACOs with 15 in the Advance Payment program
• January 2013: 106 ACOs with 15 in the Advance Payment program

Additionally, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is working with 32 ACOs in its Pioneer ACO model.  Despite the expansions in CMS-sponsored care coordination models, however, many health care providers are waiting to see whether shared savings and risk-based payment structures truly lower health care costs and promote better care.

The next application cycle for the MSSP will begin in January 2014.  Applications will be due during the summer of 2013.