Here are seven things to know.
1. According to a CMS fact sheet, the number of ACOs participating in the various tracks of the MSSP increased from 480 in 2017 to 561 in 2018. Of these, 171 are physician-only ACOs, up from 134 in 2016.
2. Of the 432 MSSP ACOs operating in 2016, 31 percent generated shared savings; 45 percent of physician-only ACOs generated shared-savings, compared to 23 percent of the 226 hospital-based ACOs.
3. This year, CMS launched a new Advanced Alternative Payment Model for physicians, the Medicare ACO Track 1+. This option limits downside risk for participating practices while also allowing them to collect a lump-sum bonus that was previously available only to those who assumed more risk.