Shifting ACO Rules Create Uncertainty for Home Health Agencies

Home health agencies are still unsure what a recent overhaul of Medicare’s accountable care organization (ACO) program means for them. They will be affected, experts say, but how and to what extent remains unclear.

Called “Pathways to Success,” the new policies for ACOs were announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about a month ago. Among other changes, the new policies shorten risk-free periods and offer more regulatory flexibility, including for providing telehealth to people in their homes. The effects of these modifications will continue to be monitored by the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS).

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