Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) interested in participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) starting January 1, 2025 can follow this one-pager from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. SSP ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who collaborate to give coordinated high-quality care to people with Medicare. Phase 1 of the application process opens May 20th and closes June 17th. Certain new ACO entities in rural and underserved areas may be eligible for Advance Investment Payments (AIPs), which are upfront and quarterly payments that can be used to build infrastructure and promote equity by addressing beneficiary needs. AIPs are recouped from earned shared savings in current and subsequent agreement periods.
