Leaked memo reveals Dem strategy for defending healthcare reg

The memo also addresses fears that physicians and hospitals will seek to boost their Medicare savings by skimping on care.

“ACOs that skimp on care will not qualify for bonuses,” the memo says. “Under the proposed rules, to share in savings, ACOs would meet quality standards in five key areas. (…) The proposed rules also include strong protections to ensure patients do not have their care choices limited by an ACO.”

In addition, it attempts to lay to rest privacy concerns raised by the sharing of patient data among an ACO’s medical professionals.

“Beneficiaries’ data will not be shared if they don’t want it to be shared,” the memo says. “Beneficiaries will be given information in writing about sharing personal health data the first time that they see an ACO provider. At that time, they will be offered the opportunity to opt out of having their Medicare claims data shared with the ACO.”

The nine-page memo apparently wasn’t completed before it was circulated internally.

To the question “Won’t some ACOs become a monopoly and drive up costs while limiting access to care?,” the document answers: “Need CMS to insert answer.”