The Advance Payment ACO Model is an Innovation Center initiative for participants in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. It’s designed for physician-based and rural providers who have come together voluntarily to give coordinated high quality care to the Medicare patients they serve. Through the Advance Payment ACO Model, selected participants will receive upfront and monthly payments, which they can use to make important investments in their care coordination infrastructures.

CMS announced last October that applications would only be accepted for April 1, 2012 and July 1, 2012 start dates.

However, the Innovation Center has now announced that beginning August 1, 2012, it will be accepting applications for an additional round of Advance Payment ACOs that would begin on January 1, 2013.

Organizations interested in the Advance Payment ACO Model should start their application process by submitting a Notice of Intent to apply for the Medicare Shared Savings Program performance period that begins January 1, 2013. This Notice of Intent (NOI) is due June 29, 2012. Organizations that submit this NOI will then have the opportunity to submit applications to both the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Advance Payment ACO Model.

The Advance Payment ACO Model is an important part of the CMS Innovation Center’s work to help providers at all levels of readiness.

The CMS Innovation Center was created by the Affordable Care Act to test innovative payment and service delivery models that have the potential to reduce program expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care. More information is at innovation.cms.gov.