The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a new initiative designed to identify, test, and evaluate new ways to improve care for Medicare beneficiaries with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). To answer questions about this new initiative, CMS staff will be hosting an Open Door Forum on Tuesday, February 26 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST. Information about this Open Door Forum, and a recording of a previous Open Door Forum about the initiative, are available at: innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/comprehensive-ESRD-care/ Through the Comprehensive ESRD Care Initiative, CMS will enter into agreements with groups of health care providers and suppliers called ESRD Seamless Care Organizations who will work together to provide beneficiaries with a more patient-centered, coordinated care experience. Participating organizations must include at least a dialysis facility, a nephrologist, and one other Medicare provider or supplier. Participating organizations will assume clinical and financial responsibility for a group of beneficiaries with ESRD, based on where these beneficiaries receive services. Those organizations successful in improving beneficiary health outcomes and lowering the per capita cost of care for beneficiaries will have an opportunity to share in Medicare savings with CMS. Applications to participate in the model will ask applicant ESCOs to describe their previous experience and/or plans to work with state Medicaid agencies to coordinate benefits of Medicare-Medicaid enrollees (dual eligibles) participating in this new model. The application will also ask the applicant to upload an optional letter of support from the state Medicaid agency. A detailed description of the model is included in the Request for Applications, which is posted on the Comprehensive ESRD Care initiative's home page. innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/comprehensive-ESRD-care/ Please direct any questions to esrd-cmmi@cms.hhs.gov.
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