Where Are We At? June 2015

The nation awaits the Burwell decision from the Supreme Court.

While this decision could negatively impact the Affordable Care Act, it may not have such a big impact on health care reform.

So what is the difference?

Health care reform is a bit like an avalanche, once it was started by ACA it picked a momentum of its own.

Reform was driven by ACA, but is no longer totally dependent on ACA. We cannot turn back the clock. We cannot return to 2010, with or without ACA.

Medicare ACOs - The Next Generation

The first generation ACOs, the so-called Pioneer model, have been a minor success.
The Affordable Care Act needs ACOs to be big success in order to achieve long-term goals.

The next generation of Medicare ACOs will allow bigger rewards for the ACO participants, as long as the participants are willing to share risk.

CMS has been tinkering with the regulations, finally published on June 4, 2015, for fear the first generation might drop out and the second generation might be a bust.

Stay tuned.