General Question for the Week of October 29, 2018

Question:

What is the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program)?

Answer:

The Shared Savings Program (SSP) is an alternative payment model that offers providers and suppliers (e.g., physicians, hospitals, and others involved in patient care) an opportunity to create a new type of healthcare entity—an accountable care organization (ACO). An ACO agrees to be held accountable for the quality, cost, and experience of care of an assigned Medicare fee-for-service beneficiary population. The SSP has different tracks that allow ACOs to select an arrangement that makes the most sense for their organization. Learn more about the program by visiting https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/sharedsavingsprogram/index.html.