The CMS Innovation Center recently announced the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model to address disparities by providing a path for rural communities to transform health care delivery by leveraging innovative financial arrangements combined with operational and regulatory flexibilities. The Model aims to:
- Increase financial stability for rural providers by providing up-front investments and predictable, capitated payments based on quality and patient outcomes
- Remove regulatory burden through waivers that increase operational and regulatory flexibility
- Enhance beneficiaries’ access to health care services by ensuring rural providers sustain financial stability in the long term and offer additional services such as addressing social determinants of health.
CMS is offering two tracks:
- Community Transformation Track – CMS will select up to 15 Lead Organizations that will work closely with model participants to drive health care delivery system redesign by leading the development and implementation of Transformation Plans.
- ACO Transformation Track – CMS will select up to 20 rural-focused ACOs to receive advanced payments as a part of the Medicare Shared Savings Program and engaging in value-based payment efforts that will improve outcomes and quality for rural beneficiaries.
CMS provided more details in a webinar in August. View the slides and the recording.
CMS anticipates the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Community Transformation Track will be available in September, and the Request for Application for the ACO Transformation Track will be available in early 2021.
For more information, check out the CHART Model website.