On January 5, 2012, CMS will host an Open Door Forum to review the Advance Payment ACO Model and a newly-released Advance Payment ACO application template. As previously reported, this initiative will test whether/how pre-paying a portion of future shared saving could increase participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. CMS also has announced that Advance Payment  Model applications will be accepted between January 3 and February 1, 2012 for the April 1, 2012 start date, and between March 1 and March 30, 2012 for the July 1, 2012 start date.