How long must an ACO manage care for patients under the MSSP?

The Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) requires that Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) manage care for patients for at least three years. This duration is critical as it allows ACOs to develop the necessary infrastructure and relationships to effectively coordinate care among providers, reduce unnecessary services, and enhance health outcomes for beneficiaries.

The three-year period is designed to create stability and consistency, enabling ACOs to implement transformative care strategies and interventions. This timeframe also ensures that ACOs can collect sufficient data to evaluate their performance and achieve the shared savings goals set by the MSSP.

Options indicating a longer duration, such as five years or indefinite, do not reflect the current requirements of the MSSP. Similarly, options suggesting a shorter duration, such as one year, fail to recognize the comprehensive efforts needed for efficient care management and coordination among diverse providers that the MSSP aims to promote. Therefore, managing care for at least three years strikes a balance between necessary oversight and flexibility for ACOs to innovate and improve patient care.