The following Medicare Learning Network(r) products regarding the Medicare Shared Savings Program are now available:
New - "Accountable Care Organizations: What Providers Need to Know<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/ACO_Providers_Factsheet_ICN907406.pdf>," Fact Sheet, ICN 907406, Downloadable. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) under the Medicare Shared Savings Program. It includes a definition of an ACO, and information on how to participate in an ACO, how shared savings will work, how this program is aligned with other quality initiatives and how ACOs help doctors coordinate care. New - "Improving Quality of Care for Medicare Patients: Accountable Care Organizations<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/ACO_Quality_Factsheet_ICN907407.pdf>," Fact Sheet, ICN 907407, Downloadable. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on improving quality of care under ACOs. It includes a table of quality measures under the program. New - "Advance Payment Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/ACO_Advance_Payment_Factsheet_ICN907403.pdf>," Fact Sheet, ICN 907403, Downloadable. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on the advance payment model for ACOs. It includes a summary of the Advance Payment ACO Model, background, and information on the structure of payments, recoupment of advance payments, eligibility, and the application process. New - "Medicare Shared Savings Program and Rural Providers<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/ACO_Rural_Factsheet_ICN907408.pdf>," Fact Sheet, ICN 907408, Downloadable. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on how the Medicare Shared Savings Program impacts rural providers. It includes information on federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals and how this program impacts them. New - "Summary of Final Rule Provisions for Accountable Care Organizations under the Medicare Shared Savings Program<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/ACO_Summary_Factsheet_ICN907404.pdf>," Fact Sheet, ICN 907404, Downloadable. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on the provisions of the final rule that implements the Medicare Shared Savings Program with Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). It includes background, information on how ACOs impact beneficiaries, eligibility requirements to form an ACO, and information on monitoring and tying payment to improved care at lower costs. New - "Methodology for Determining Shared Savings and Losses under the Medicare Shared Savings Program<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/ACO_Methodology_Factsheet_ICN907405.pdf>," Fact Sheet, ICN 907405, Downloadable. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on the methodology for determining shared savings and losses under the Medicare Shared Savings Program. It includes an overview of the program, a description of the two tracks providers can choose, and a description of how Medicare determines the shared savings or loss. ------------------------------------------------- Each Office Visit is an Opportunity. Medicare patients give many reasons for not getting their annual flu vaccination, but the fact is that flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Each year, it is estimated that 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths and more than 60 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations occur in people 65 years and older. Please talk with your Medicare patients about the importance of getting their annual flu vaccination. And remember, vaccination is important for healthcare workers too, who may spread the flu to high risk patients. Don't forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself. Get the Flu Vaccine-Not the Flu. Remember - The flu vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. CMS has posted the 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine payment limits at http://www.CMS.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/10_VaccinesPricing.asp. Note that the flu vaccine is NOT a Part D-covered drug. For more information on coverage and billing of the flu vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational provider resources, visit http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp and http://www.cms.gov/immunizations. ------------------------------------------------------ Note: If you have problems accessing any hyperlink in this message, please copy and paste the URL into your Internet browser. If you know someone who would like to subscribe to a Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) provider listserv, go to (http://www.cms.gov/prospmedicarefeesvcpmtgen/downloads/Provider_Listservs.pdf). If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?INDEX) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.gov/ContactCMS). Thank you.
