"Without certain design elements, the ACO program may have the effect of limiting treatment options and discouraging physicians from adopting new advancements in care," Lynch said. "CMS failed to include or even discuss common-sense provisions to support continued medical progress, despite concerns expressed by the life science industry, patient groups and members of Congress."

Over the summer, AdvaMed called on CMS to include in the final rules features such as financial protections for doctors buying new technology and an independent panel to monitor ACO beneficiary claims to ensure providers weren't skimping on appropriate services.


For the new revisions, AdvaMed was especially unhappy about a move that the doctors' groups welcomed: the dropping of quality measures from 65, in the draft rules, to 33 in the final ones.

"The final rule lacks sufficient measures of patient outcomes to assure quality of care. There are large areas of clinical practice not addressed at all -- including cancer, severe arthritis, chronic pain and osteoporosis," Lynch said.

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