CMS announces new rural payment model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation Model, a new payment model for rural communities in response to an Aug. 3 executive order calling for a new model “to ensure that rural healthcare providers are able to provide the necessary level and quality of care.”

The two-track model seeks to provide up-front funding and predictable payments that are less dependent on service volume, and reduce regulatory burden and increase flexibilities for model participants.

CMS plans to select up to 15 rural communities to participate in the Community Transformation Track beginning in summer 2021, and then request applications for 20 participants in the ACO Transformation Track to begin in January 2022.

The agency will host a webinar on the CHART Model on Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. ET. Watch for an AHA Special Bulletin with more information.