[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 209 (Friday, October 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66931-66932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27958]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-5502-N3]


Medicare Program; Accountable Care Organization Accelerated 
Development Learning Sessions; Center for Medicare and Medicaid 
Innovation

November 17 and 18, 2011.
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the date and location of the third and 
last in a series of public educational sessions hosted by the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This two-day training session 
is the third and final Accelerated Development Learning Session (ADLS) 
hosted by CMS to help Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) deliver 
better care and reduce costs. We invite all new or existing ACO 
entities to register a team of senior executives to attend the in-
person ADLS. The ADLS will provide executives with the opportunity to 
learn about core functions of an ACO and ways to build their 
organization's capacity to succeed as an ACO.

DATES: Meeting Date: Thursday, November 17, 2011, 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., 
eastern standard time (E.S.T.) Friday, November 18, 2011, 8 a.m. to 4 
p.m. (E.S.T.)
    Deadline for Meeting Registration: Registration for the second ADLS 
will remain open until capacity has been reached for the November 17 
through 18 in-person meeting. Space is limited and participants are 
encouraged to register as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:
    Meeting Location: The third and final ADLS will be held at the 
Centers for

[[Page 66932]]

Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, MD. Participants are responsible for their own travel, 
parking, meals, and overnight stay expenses. More information about the 
venue and accommodations can be found at https://acoregister.rti.org/. 
Potential participants are also strongly encouraged to complete the 
comprehensive planning tool discussed in section II. of this notice 
before arriving to the meeting.
    Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written Comments: 
Registration information and documents can be accessed online at 
https://acoregister.rti.org/.
    Registration: Eligible organizations interested in registering for 
the ADLS should visit https://acoregister.rti.org/ for information 
about registration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information is available on 
the registration Web site at https://acoregister.rti.org/. Click on 
``contact us'' to send questions or comments via email. Press inquiries 
are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 1115A of the Social Security Act (the Act), as added by 
section 3021 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 
111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation 
Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-152) (collectively, the Affordable Care Act), 
established the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation 
Center) for the purpose of examining new ways of delivering health care 
and paying health care providers in ways that can save money for 
Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP while improving the quality of care for 
beneficiaries. Through Accelerated Development Learning Sessions 
(ADLS), the Innovation Center will test whether intensive shared 
learning activities will expand and improve the capabilities of 
provider organizations to coordinate the care of a population of 
Medicare beneficiaries more effectively than organizations that do not 
participate in the ADLS. Well coordinated care can improve 
beneficiaries' quality outcomes and reduce the growth of Medicare 
expenditures.
    Completion of the ADLS will not be a factor for selection or 
participation in a CMS ACO program. It is intended to provide ACOs with 
the opportunity to learn from their peers about essential ACO functions 
and various ways to build capacity needed to achieve better care for 
individuals, better population health, and lower growth in health care 
expenditures.
    The ADLSs were first announced in the May 19, 2011 Federal Register 
(76 FR 28988). This third and final ADLS will combine the third and 
fourth sessions called for in the original notice. By holding the 
meeting at the CMS complex in Baltimore, Maryland, CMS hopes to enhance 
the dialogue between healthcare providers working to form ACOs and CMS 
staff developing ACO programs.
    Each participating team should consist of two to four senior-level 
leaders (including at least one executive with financial/management 
responsibility and one with clinical responsibility). Participants are 
also asked to attend future web based seminars and complete a full ACO 
implementation plan as part of the broader ADLS initiative to 
facilitate on-going learning and evaluation.

II. Completion of Planning Tool and Session Registration Information

    Registrants need to complete the registration form in order to 
participate in an ACO ADLS. Potential participants are also strongly 
encouraged to complete a comprehensive planning tool, which will allow 
them to take full advantage of the hands-on learning activities during 
the ADLS. The registration form and comprehensive planning tool are 
available on the ADLS Web site at https://acoregister.rti.org.

    Authority:  Section 1115A of the Social Security Act.

    Dated: October 20, 2011.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-27958 Filed 10-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P