The Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program) promotes accountability for a patient population, improves the coordination of items and services for Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries, and encourages investment in high-quality and efficient services. 

The Shared Savings Program offers providers and suppliers an opportunity to create or join an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals that work together to give patients high-quality, coordinated service and health care, improve health outcomes, and manage costs. ACOs agree to be held accountable for the quality, cost, and experience of care of an assigned Medicare FFS beneficiary population.  

Under the Shared Savings Program, providers and suppliers that participate in an ACO continue to receive traditional Medicare FFS payments under Parts A and B. When an ACO succeeds in both delivering high-quality care and spending health care dollars more wisely, the ACO may be eligible to share in the savings it achieves for the Medicare program, or some instances may owe losses if it increases cost. The Shared Savings Program has different participation options (tracks) that allow ACOs to select an arrangement that makes the most sense for their organization.
 

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Program Updates 

In the News 

Find recent press releases about the program.

• 1/29/2024 Press Release: Participation Continues to Grow in CMS’ Accountable Care Organization Initiatives in 2024
• 11/2/2023 Press Release: CMS Finalizes Physician Payment Rule that Advances Health Equity
  • Shared Savings Program Fact Sheet: Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule – Medicare Shared Savings Program Fact Sheet
  • 2024 QPP Final Rule Fact Sheet and Policy Comparison Table (PDF)
  • Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Fact Sheet: Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
  • Final Rule: CY 2024 PFS Final Rule 
• 8/24/2023 Press Release: Medicare Shared Savings Program Saves Medicare More Than $1.8 Billion in 2022 and Continues to Deliver High-quality Care 
  • To view the complete performance results, refer to the Performance Year Financial and Quality Results Public Use File (PUF) on Data.CMS.gov.

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Program Resources 

Find information about the Shared Savings Program application process. Learn more >

Find guidance and specification documents relevant to program participation, quality reporting, data and report sharing, beneficiary information, and financial and assignment methodology. Learn more >

Program Data 

Find publicly available datasets related to ACO participation and performance. Learn more >

Find final rules, program statutes, and other regulatory documents for the Shared Savings Program. Learn more >

Contact Information 

Find contact information to use for Shared Savings Program inquiries.