H.R. 6308House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

ACO Assignment Improvement Act of 2021

Introduced December 16, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 8:42 AM UTC

The ACO Assignment Improvement Act of 2021 changes the Social Security Act to broaden how Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) assign beneficiaries in the shared savings program. It adds primary care services delivered by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists as a factor for assignment, starting with performance years beginning on or after January 1, 2022. This affects Medicare beneficiaries, ACOs, and the listed non‑physician clinicians who provide primary care.

Key Provisions

  • Amends Section 1899(c)(1) of the Social Security Act by removing minor punctuation changes (striking an "and" and a period).
  • Adds a new subparagraph (C) that allows primary care services provided by ACO professionals—specifically nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists—to be considered when assigning beneficiaries to ACOs for performance years starting January 1, 2022.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

December 17, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 16, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

December 16, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

December 17, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued December 16, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 6308

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 16, 2021

Mr. Kilmer (for himself, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Gallagher, and Miss Rice of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the way beneficiaries are assigned under the Medicare shared savings program by also basing such assignment on primary care services furnished by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the ACO Assignment Improvement Act of 2021.

2.

Improvements to the assignment of beneficiaries under the Medicare shared savings program

Section 1899(c)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395jjj(c)(1)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(C)

in the case of performance years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, primary care services provided under this title by an ACO professional described in subsection (h)(1)(B).

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