In response to providers, CMS offers further specifics about direct contracting

• Providers’ concurrent participation in the new direct-contracting model and ACOs will be limited to 2020.
• CMS is planning no further application periods after the second such period in the spring of 2020.
• Marketing guidance to providers seeking to ensure a sufficient number of enrollees may be released later.

Medicare has clarified that providers cannot participate in both accountable care organizations (ACOs) and coming direct-contracting arrangements after 2020. The clarification — and others — came amid early provider feedback on the model, which is slated to start this spring.

Providers sought a range of clarifications on the Direct Contracting model from staff of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) during...