Medicare Shared Savings Program Advance Investment Payments

SharedSavingsProgram@cms.hhs.gov

The Medicare Shared Savings Program offers providers and suppliers an opportunity to create an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). An ACO agrees to be held accountable for the quality, cost, and experience of care of an assigned Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiary population. The program has different tracks that allow ACOs to select an arrangement that makes the most sense for their organization.

The Shared Savings Program is working to move the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) payment system away from volume and toward value and outcomes. It is an alternative payment model that:

• Promotes accountability for a patient population
• Coordinates items and services for Medicare FFS beneficiaries
• Encourages investment in high quality and efficient services

The Shared Savings Program is offering a payment option, known as Advance Investment Payments (AIP), to encourage healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas to join together to form ACOs. AIP offers eligible ACOs advance shared savings payments to build the infrastructure needed to succeed in the Shared Savings Program and promote equity. Advance investment payments will be recouped from earned shared savings in an ACO's current and subsequent agreement period.

The Advance Investment Payments may be used for:

• Increased staffing
• Healthcare infrastructure
• Provision of accountable care for underserved beneficiaries, including addressing social determinants of health

Eligible participants are providers and suppliers, such as physicians, hospitals, and others involved in patient care.

Participant options are listed in the application guidance.

Beneficiary assignment estimates tip sheet

Follow the steps on the application types and timeline page.

AIP fact sheet

Key application dates and deadlines document