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(ACO) regulations - American Society of Anesthesiologists

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CMS-1345-P 334<br />

must notify us <strong>of</strong> the change within 30 days and that the <strong>ACO</strong> must recalculate and report at that<br />

time their PSA shares for common services that two or more independent <strong>ACO</strong> participants<br />

provide to patients from the same PSA. We propose that if any revised PSA share is calculated<br />

to be greater than 50 percent, the <strong>ACO</strong> will be subject to mandatory review or re-review by the<br />

Antitrust Agencies in order to maintain the benefits <strong>of</strong> competition for Medicare beneficiaries<br />

and eligibility to participate in the Shared Savings Program. Finally, we propose that if the <strong>ACO</strong><br />

fails to obtain a letter from the reviewing Antitrust Agency confirming that it has no present<br />

intent to challenge or recommend challenging the <strong>ACO</strong>, the <strong>ACO</strong> will be terminated from the<br />

Shared Savings Program.<br />

The purpose <strong>of</strong> requiring Antitrust Agency confirmation that it has no present intent to<br />

challenge or recommend challenging the <strong>ACO</strong> as a condition <strong>of</strong> participation is two-fold. First,<br />

the proposal ensures that <strong>ACO</strong>s participating in the Shared Savings Program will not present<br />

competitive problems that could subject them to antitrust challenge that may prevent them from<br />

completing the term <strong>of</strong> their 3-year agreement with us. Section 1899(b)(2)(B) <strong>of</strong> the Act<br />

provides that <strong>ACO</strong>s shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary to participate in the program<br />

for not less than a 3-year period. We believe the requirement that <strong>ACO</strong>s be willing and able to<br />

commit to a 3-year agreement to participate in the Shared Savings Program is necessary to<br />

ensure that the program achieves its long-term goal <strong>of</strong> redesigning health care processes, and our<br />

proposal here furthers that intent.<br />

Second, the proposal maintains competition for the benefit <strong>of</strong> Medicare beneficiaries by<br />

reducing the potential for the creation <strong>of</strong> <strong>ACO</strong>s with market power. As discussed in more detail<br />

later in the document, we believe that competition in the marketplace benefits Medicare and the<br />

Shared Savings Program because it promotes quality <strong>of</strong> care for Medicare beneficiaries and

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