SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT THE SPRING 2026 CONFERENCE

Whether you join in person or virtually, the NAACOS Spring 2026 Conference will be a stellar opportunity to hear from CMS leaders about new models, vision and priorities for advancing accountable care, and the role of technology in care transformation. Speakers and sessions include:

• Fireside Chat with John Brooks, Deputy Administrator and Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer, CMS

• Fireside Chat with Alberto Colon Viera, Chief Health Technology Officer, CMS

• Breaking Down the Alphabet Soup: MSSP, LEAD, TEAM, ACCESS, ASM, with Gary Bacher, CMMI; Jacob Shiff, CMMI; Jake Quinton, CM

• Prepare to Swarm: Strategies to Combat Fraud, Waste, & Abuse, with Jeneen Iwugo, Acting Director, Center for Program Integrity

• Cross-Payer Strategies in the Move to Digital Quality, with Nisha Bhat, Director, Performance-Based Payment Policy Group, CM

Check out the final agenda and register to attend!

CMMI DIRECTOR SUTTON SHARES INSIGHTS ON MODEL PORTFOLIO

Emily Brower sat down with Abe Sutton, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation for an exclusive interview in a virtual fireside chat. The wide‑ranging conversation explores the future of accountable care and value-based payment models. Sutton shares how the Innovation Center is driving system‑level transformation to make care more affordable. Watch the interview. 

LEAD MODEL DETAILS AND RESOURCES

NAACOS is working to ensure that members are supported as they evaluate the LEAD (Long-term Enhanced ACO Design) Model. In addition to the conference sessions on LEAD, there are several other opportunities to get involved:

• CMS LEAD Application Office Hour:April 21, 2:00 pm ET (Register)

• NAACOS Webinar on LEAD: April 27, 1:00 pm ET(Register)

• NAACOS REACH/LEAD Deep Dive Roundtable with CMMI LEAD model team: April 30, 12:00 pm ET(Register)

• Monthly ACO REACH/LEAD Roundtable Meeting Series: Fourth Thursday each month, noon ET (Register)

We also have several new resources:

• ACO Comparison Chart: Outlines and compares MSSP, ACO REACH and LEAD across several domains, including financial structure, beneficiaries and alignment approaches, quality, compliance programs, and available waivers.

• LEAD Model Detailed Slides: Presents comprehensive model details.

ASK CMS TO ENSURE STABILITY OF ACOs

NAACOS continues to urge the Administration to ensure stability in ACO programs by fixing inaccurate trend adjustments; holding ACOS harmless for fraud, waste and abuse; and addressing the benchmark ratchet. Last month NAACOS sent a sign-on letter with more than 120 members asking CMS to address these issues and embrace innovation in MSSP.

We encourage members to share their perspectives on these recommendations with CMS. Check out the ModernizeACOs.orgfor more information and contact [email protected] if you need assistance in your outreach to the Administration.

PRESIDENT’S BUDGET LANDS ON CAPITOL HILL

The White House sent President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request to Congress. It requests a cut of more than $15 billion in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. While the President’s budget is seen as aspirational and reflects the priorities of the Administration, government funding levels are determined through Congressional appropriations. HHS Secretary Kennedy will testify on Capitol Hill in the coming weeks to discuss the President’s funding request. 

REPUBLICAN LEADERS PLAN RECONCILIATION 2.0

House and Senate Republican leaders have been meeting with the President and planning to move forward with a budget reconciliation proposal to end the months long shutdown or homeland security programs. A budget reconciliation bill would only require Republican support. While the details are still being determined, it’s possible that the cost of the legislation could be offset with additional funding reductions to federal health programs.

HOUSE COMMITTEES CONTINUE HEALTH HEARINGS

The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing this week with HHS Secretary Kennedy and has plans to hold a hearing next week on health care fraud, waste, and abuse. NAACOS has been working closely with members of the committee to craft solutions to hold ACOs harmless from spending outside of their control. The committee is also planning to do a series of hearings on health care affordability the last week of April.  

PROPOSED PAYMENT RULES

CMS recently released several proposed and final payment rules. NAACOS will post summaries to the resource library as they are available:

• Inpatient Prospective Payment SystemComments due by 6/9/2026

• Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System Comments due by 6/1/2026

• Hospice Wage IndexComments due by 6/1/2026

• Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment SystemComments due by 6/1/2026

• Skilled Nursing Facilities Prospective Payment System Comments due by 6/1/202

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE RATE ANNOUNCEMENT

CMS finalized the Contract Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Program Final Rule (Fact Sheet, Press Release) and Rate Announcement (Fact Sheet, Press Release) with a 2.48 percent increase, or over $13 billion, in MA payments to plans in CY 2027. CMS confirmed continued use of the 2024 MA risk adjustment model (v28) and streamlined the Star Ratings program by removing 11 administrative measures while adding a new Part C Depression Screening and Follow-Up measure to address behavioral health gaps. Additional details and impact will be discussed during a webinar on May 5, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm ET (registration coming soon).

ENGAGE WITH YOUR REGION’S QIO

CMS contracts with Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) to work with hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinical practices on improving health outcomes, health care quality, access, and value for Medicare beneficiaries. QIN-QIOs are expert groups that provide technical assistance, education, and data-driven tools at no cost to help healthcare providers improve processes and outcomes. Practices have until May to enroll, and the time commitment and types of support can be tailored to the practices’ needs. Learn more in this fact sheet and connect with the QIN-QIOs in your regions:

1. Northeast: IPRO(Island Peer Review Organization)

2. Mid-Atlantic: IPRO

3. Southeast: HQI (Health Quality Innovators)

4. Great Lakes: Superior Health

5. Southcentral: TMF Health Quality Institute

6. Midwest: Telligen

7. West: HSAG(Health Services Advisory Group) 

BOOT CAMP 101 COMING VIRTUALLY IN JUNE

Are you looking to learn or improve your understanding of ACO analytics in these times of change? Join us at the NAACOS Boot Camp 101 virtual event June 2-4.

Boot Camp 101 will include 12 hours of content (four hours each day) and a half hour of peer-to-peer conversations relating to the day’s topics each afternoon. The agenda features sessions on:

• ACO data – core requirements

• Using internal and external data and analytics resources

• Understanding data to create provider and practice reports

• EHR smart data elements and reportable data formatting

• Advocacy update on new models and applications

• And much more

SOUTHWEST AND MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL MEETINGS

Register today for the upcoming Southwest Virtual Meeting on May 19 and the Mid-Atlantic In-Person Meeting in New York City on June 17.

Join other value-based care organizations at these upcoming meetings designed to spark meaningful conversations and strengthen collaboration across your regions. Don’t miss this chance to exchange insights, learn from industry leaders, and drive impact in your community.

• The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) will held a public meeting on April 9-10. During the meeting, commissioners discussed a range of issues, including how to improve the structure of financial incentives in Medicare. The next MedPAC report to Congress will be released in June.

• CMS leadership recently wrote in Health Affairs Forefront reflecting on the last decade of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and drawing on lessons learned to inform the agency’s vision for the next 10 years.