ACO Proposed Rule Simplified: MedeAnalytics Releases Comprehensive White Paper

Analysis boils down lengthy and complex regulation

EMERYVILLE, Calif., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MedeAnalytics announced today the release of a white paper that summarizes the 429-page proposed rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on March 31, 2011.

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The white paper, entitled, "Accountable Care Organizations: Summary and Analysis of the Proposed Rule," covers a wide range of areas, including the ACO application process, shared governance requirement, legal issues, quality measures and reporting, shared savings determination, and which healthcare constituencies appear to have exercised the most influence in the formation of the proposed rule.

"In the tradition of our white papers on major issues in healthcare—such as meaningful use and compliance—our healthcare policy team has endeavored to objectively report on the most salient elements of the proposed rule," said Ken Perez, who directs MedeAnalytics' healthcare policy research and serves as the company's senior vice president of marketing. "We expect this piece to serve as a kind of reference work for understanding the draft regulation."

The white paper, reference materials and links to leading online resources are available at the company's Accountable Care Organization Resource Center.

About ACOs

While the ACO label has been around since 2006, it was mentioned in numerous healthcare reform bills proposed in 2009 and was ultimately included in Section 3022 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) as the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The ACA's ACO provision covers Medicare ACOs. The Shared Savings Program is a new approach to the delivery of healthcare aimed at: (1) better care for individuals; (2) better health for populations; and (3) lower growth in expenditures.

About MedeAnalytics

Founded in 1994, MedeAnalytics delivers performance management solutions across the healthcare system—including hospitals, physician practices and payers—to ensure accountability and improve financial, operational and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.medeanalytics.com.

SOURCE MedeAnalytics