What is the minimum enrollment requirement for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in a Shared Savings Plan?

The minimum enrollment requirement for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in a Shared Savings Plan is indeed 5,000 Medicare fee-for-service patients. This threshold is essential for ACOs because it ensures a sufficiently large patient population to adequately manage and share the risk of caring for patients while improving quality and reducing costs. With a minimum of 5,000 patients, ACOs can engage in better data analysis, patient management, and cost-saving strategies that ultimately benefit both the organization and the patients it serves.

This requirement reflects the program's goal to foster effective coordination among healthcare providers, which is more feasible with a larger patient pool. It enables ACOs to leverage economies of scale that can lead to improved health outcomes, enhanced patient experiences, and reduced unnecessary healthcare costs.