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CHRONIC Care Act Is a Significant Step Toward Improving Health and Lowering Medicare Costs Washington, D.C. (May 18, 2017) – Clif Gaus, President and CEO of the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS), released the following statement after the Senate Finance Committee passed S. 870, the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017. “I am encouraged by the Senate Finance Committee’s success in moving the bipartisan CHRONIC Care Act of 2017. The legislation includes a number of provisions that provide greater flexibility to several Accountable Care Organization (ACO) models. NAACOS is pleased that the CHRONIC Care Act would allow for greater use of telehealth services for two-sided ACO risk models, would allow all ACOs to opt in to prospective beneficiary assignment, and would create a Beneficiary Incentive Program, providing clinicians with more tools in the toolbox to get patients to primary care appointments which will improve health and lower Medicare costs. While NAACOS would like to see these same allowances expanded to all ACO models, this legislation is a significant step in the right direction.” About ACOs The ACO model is a market-based solution that relies on local groups of physicians, hospitals and other providers who are responsible for the total cost of care for their patients. ACO providers must work together to improve health care quality, enhance patient experience, and reduce costs. About NAACOS NAACOS is the largest association of Medicare ACOs, representing over 3.5 million beneficiary lives through 210 MSSP, Next Generation, and Pioneer ACOs. NAACOS is an ACO member-led and member-owned non-profit organization that works on behalf of ACOs across the nation to improve the Quality of Medicare delivery, population health and outcomes, and health care cost efficiency. |