Newsletter for Members and Partners |
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NAACOS Working with CMS to Modernize ACOS |
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NAACOS Working with CMS to Modernize ACOS |
Currently, our priority is to seek immediate changes for ACOs, including holding ACOs harmless for fraud, waste, and abuse and correcting inaccurate trends—the ACPT in MSSP and the RTA risk corridors in ACO REACH. NAACOS has remained engaged with the administration on these areas of opportunity. From our conversations, we know CMS is actively working on solutions. To show industry-wide support for these needed changes and other areas for innovation within ACOs, NAACOS has prepared a sign-on letter. Sign-on today.
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NEW NAACOS BLOG – ACCESS: THE POWER WILL BE IN PARTNERSHIPS |
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective Scalable Solutions) Model has big potential for tech enabled chronic care—but it will only succeed with strong ACO partnerships. From beneficiary engagement to data integration, ACOs bring the infrastructure and trust needed to make outcomes based tech work. Read NAACOS’ take on how CMS can encourage success in ACCESS through ACOs. NAACOS continues to engage with CMS on strategies to increase patient engagement with ACOs.
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NAACOS SUBMITS COMMENTS ON AI, MA, HEALTH IT, AND QUALITY |
Last week, NAACOS submitted several comment letters to the administration: |
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HELP STRENGTHEN NAACOS ADVOCACY |
Share the contact information of your organization’s government relations or lobbyists contacts with our advocacy team. This will help NAACOS improve coordination and alignment on advocacy efforts with Congress and the administration. Thank you for your support in strengthening our collective voice. Please send a list with contact information to [email protected].
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FOCUS ON HEALTH CARE TO CONTINUE POST SOTU |
Following President Trump’s State of the Union (SOTU) address, Congress is expected to continue advancing health care priorities centered on affordability and lowering costs for patients and taxpayers. House and Senate health committees are focused on examining the underlying drivers of health care spending, including hospitals, other providers, and issues related to fraud, waste, and abuse. Lawmakers are planning a series of hearings in the coming weeks to further explore affordability challenges, while the administration continues encouraging Republicans to pursue legislative solutions aligned with the President’s framework, including potential drug reform policies such as Most Favored Nation (MFN). At the same time, Republican leaders are continuing to assess options for using budget reconciliation a second time this Congress as a potential vehicle to advance Republican health priorities.
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PTAC SPRING MEETING ON MULTI-PAYER ALIGNMENT |
Physician-focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) held its spring public meeting on February 23–24, focusing on how to strengthen multi-payer alignment in value-based care. CMS Innovation Center Deputy Director for Policy Amy Turner shared updates on the Center’s progress, noting the launch of nine new models in 2025, aligned with CMS’ strategic pillars of promoting preventive care, empowering patients, and driving choice and competition. NAACOS’ comments aligned with and reinforced key themes, including the need for stronger multi-payer alignment to scale VBC, deeper collaboration and trust across stakeholders, more consistent quality measures to reduce care variations, and clearer, more predictable payment structures.
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RFI ON FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE |
CMS issued a statement on Wednesday evening announcing a moratorium on new Durable Medical Equipment (DME) suppliers, as well as a request for information on additional ways the agency can tackle fraud prevention. NAACOS will be submitting comments in response to the RFI which are due March 30, 2026. We will make our draft comments available to you for your own use ahead of the deadline. Send any feedback to [email protected].
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SHAKE OFF THE WINTER BLUES AT MARCH REGIONAL MEETINGS |
Don’t miss today’s Northeast Virtual Mid-Year Regional Meeting. Followed by the Northwest Virtual Mid-Year Regional Meeting on March 17. Join regional organizations to hear about their experiences, engage in meaningful discussions, and build lasting connections with colleagues. Virtual meetings are free to attend. These events are not open to non-sponsoring business partners. Interested in presenting at future regional meetings? We welcome submissions! Please email [email protected].
Make plans to reconnect with those that you meet at Spring Conference at ongoing regional meetings throughout 2026, virtually and in person. Register now . |
IMPLEMENTING A SNF 3-DAY WAVIER DISCOVERY CALL |
Join us on March 24, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET for a discovery call on implementing a SNF 3-day waiver. During this video call, we will review basic guidelines and differences in SNF waivers from MSSP, REACH, and TEAM as well as discuss wins and challenges in the implementation processes. We will also discuss ongoing needs of our members and ways that NAACOS can continue to provide support in the post-acute waiver space. Register now and add the event to your calendar.
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NAACOS PARTNERS: REGISTER FOR MARCH 18 QUARTERLY PARTNER CALL |
NAACOS Partners: As you gear up for 2026, NAACOS wants to ensure you have the inside track on everything we have planned in the coming months. Join us on Wednesday, March 18 at 1:00 pm ET for our first quarterly partner call of the year. This session is designed exclusively for our Partner Circle, Business Partners, Payer Partners, and Alliance Partners to help you align your goals with our upcoming initiatives. Discover fresh opportunities to connect with NAACOS members, learn about maximizing your presence at the Spring conference, and get the details on regional events coming to your area. Register today!
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EARLY REGISTRATION RATES END FRIDAY – REGISTER NOW! |
Time is running out to take advantage of early registration savings for the Spring 2026 Conference, taking place April 22–24 at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor.
Register now to attend in person or virtually and lock in discounted early bird rates before they expire this Friday. Special group rates are also available for members—making it the perfect opportunity to bring your team and maximize the value of your experience. The agenda will highlight insights from leading health care experts and CMS insiders, offering participants an in-depth look at the latest strategies driving health care transformation. In addition to dynamic presentations and panel discussions, the event provides valuable networking opportunities for participants, speakers, and vendors to connect, collaborate, and share best practices.
Hotel accommodations are available at the NAACOS discounted rate of $249 per night, plus taxes and fees, at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor. This discounted room rate block has been extended through Friday, March 13 or until the room block is full. Additional rooms will not be added at the discounted rate, so book as soon as possible if you havent already!
Reserve your tabletop exhibit space today! The exhibit program is filling quickly for the spring conference. Reserve your space today! Please note, all exhibit space is on a first come first served basis, and space is assigned in the order we receive applications. |
- A recent AJMC article outlines the flaws in ACO REACH’s Retrospective Trend Adjustment risk corridors and what CMS needs to do to protect clinicians.
- The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held their March meeting this week to discuss ground ambulance data collection systems, improving access to hospice and complex palliative services, provider participation in Medicare Advantage (MA) networks, technical considerations for implementing Medicare Advantage encounter-based risk adjustment, the complexity of Medicare enrollment decisions.
- Modern Healthcare reports CMS has moved to freeze enrollment in Elevance Health’s Medicare Advantage plans set to begin March 31, citing years of noncompliance with federal risk adjustment data submission requirements. Sanctions may be lifted if Elevance submits all outstanding data corrections by the federal deadline.
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