Program Structure and Features
The Medicare Direct Contracting (MDC) Geographic Model, or “Geo”, is the third of three available MDC models released by CMMI. The Geo Model is a population based payment (PBP) model that will offer Direct Contracting Entities (DCEs) the opportunity to assume risk for the total cost of care for Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries in a defined target region. DCEs will engage in value-based payment arrangements with providers in the region that choose to be in the DCE network.
The primary difference between Geo and the Global and Professional options previously released is that DCEs will take financial risk for a subset of the Medicare Beneficiaries in a defined geographic region rather than those that see specific providers. This model also builds on previous accountable care organization (ACO) models, as well as innovations from the Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care programs.
An applicant for the Geo model may be a health care organization consisting of a direct or affiliated network of health care providers, a health plan, or other type of organization that has formal partnerships or other contractual relationships with Medicare-enrolled providers or suppliers in the target region1.
Applicants will be evaluated on a set of criteria that reflects maturity with managing and administering value based programs, and generating savings. CMS is looking for DCEs with an established presence in the communities within which they are applying, and the appropriate functional maturity to manage risk, including data analytics, network management and claims processing (if paying providers). Prospective applicants should consider their overall value-based strategy and core competencies in evaluating readiness for this program.
Quick Facts
Model Timeline
Two, 3-year performance periods
- Performance Period 1 (PP1): 1/1/2022 – 12/31/2024
- Performance Period 2 (PP2): 1/1/2025 – 12/31/2027
Important Dates
- Letter of Intent (LOI) for PP1: Opened 12/3/2020; Closed 12/21/2020 at 11:59pm PT (not required)
- Application for PP1: Request for Applications (RFA) released in Jan 2021. Application window March 1 – April 2, 2021
- Application for PP2: To be released in 2024
Ten Eligible Regions
For the Model, CMS will define Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA) that follow the delineations defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. CMS has identified 10 regions, each of which contains between approximately 150,000 and 700,000 beneficiaries. The CBSAs CMS has chosen for the model are located in:
- Atlanta
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Minneapolis
- Orlando
- Phoenix
- Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh
- Riverside
- San Diego
- Tampa
Also noteworthy is that CMS intends to select a minimum of three DCEs within any given target region, favoring target regions with more DCEs to encourage competition.
Geographic Model Features
The Request for Applications (RFA) has not yet formally been released, however based on the Request for Information, (RFI) the following program features are anticipated:
Exhibit A: Medicare Direct Contracting Geographic Model Features
For more information on exploring Medicare Direct Contracting, please contact Shanah Tirado at stirado@copehealthsolutions.com or 213-369-7415 or Allen Miller at amiller@copehealthsolutions.com or 310-386-5812.
Footnotes
1 https://innovation.cms.gov/files/x/dc-geographicpbp-rfi.pdf
2 https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/about/delineation-files.html