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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has extended the deadline to submit letters of intent to apply to participate in the  beginning Jan. 1. The new deadline is May 20. Participants in the model take on greater performance risk than those in current models, and may also share in a greater portion of savings. Eligible participants include physicians and other practitioners, hospitals that employ or have partnership arrangements with physicians or other practitioners, critical access hospitals, and rural health clinics. Applications are due May 25, with associated lists of providers and service areas due June 3. Currently, 21 ACOs participate in the model.