The CMS https://www.cms.gov Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model is in place to improve rural health and telehealth access. CMS is providing two options for participation. One grant option is for rural communities to apply for funding through a Community Transformation Track.
CMS is investing up to $75 million in seed money to allow up to 15 rural communities to participate in the Community Transformation Track. The investment empowers communities to implement care delivery reform, provide predictable capitated payments, and offer operational and regulatory flexibilities to build a sustainable system of care.
Healthcare providers across the community will be able to expand telehealth to allow the beneficiary’s place of residence to be an originating site. Certain Medicare hospitals conditions for participation would allow a rural outpatient department and emergency room to be paid as if they were classified as a hospital. The model also allows participant hospitals to waive cost-sharing for certain Part B services and provide transportation support and gift cards for chronic disease management.
In September, CMS will select up to 15 rural communities to participate in the Community Transformation Track. Winners will be announced in early 2021 and the model will start September 2020.
The second option enables providers to participate in value-based payment models where they are paid for quality and outcomes, instead of volume, through the ACO Transformation Track.
The ACO Transformation Track offers upfront investment to assist rural healthcare providers improve outcomes and quality for rural beneficiaries. This track builds on the ACO Investment Model which has saved $382 million over three years.
Providers participating in the ACO Transformation Track will enter into two-sided risk arrangements as part of the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and may use all waivers available in the MSSP program.
CMS anticipates releasing a Request for Applications Spring 2021 and will select up to 20 rural ACOs to participate in this track starting January 2022.
Go to https://innovation.cms.gov/innovation-models/chart-model for more information on CHART.