(a) General. In order to participate in the Shared Savings Program, an ACO must enter into a participation agreement with CMS for a period of not less than 3 years.
(b) Term of participation agreement. (1) For 2012. For applications that are approved to participate in the Shared Savings Program for 2012, the start date for the participation agreement will be one of the following:
(1) For 2012. For applications that are approved to participate in the Shared Savings Program for 2012, the start date for the participation agreement will be one of the following:
(i) April 1, 2012 (term of the participation agreement is 3 years and 9 months).
(ii) July 1, 2012 (term of the participation agreement is 3 years and 6 months).
(2) For 2013 and all subsequent years--
(i) The start date is January 1 of that year; and
(ii) The term of the participation agreement is 3 years.
(c) Performance year. (1) Except as specified in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, the ACO's performance year under the participation agreement is the 12 month period beginning on January 1 of each year during the term of the participation agreement unless otherwise noted in its participation agreement.
(1) Except as specified in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, the ACO's performance year under the participation agreement is the 12 month period beginning on January 1 of each year during the term of the participation agreement unless otherwise noted in its participation agreement.
(2) For an ACO with a start date of April 1, 2012 or July 1, 2012, the ACO's first performance year is defined as 21 months or 18 months, respectively.
(d) During each calendar year of the agreement period, including the partial year associated with start dates specified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, ACOs must submit measures in the form and manner required by CMS. [76 FR 67973, Nov. 2, 2011, as amended at 80 FR 32837, June 9, 2015]