Newsletter for Members and Partners |
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CMS Engages with NAACOS on ACO Updates |
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CMS Engages with NAACOS on ACO Updates |
NAACOS continues to advocate for ensuring stability in ACO models by correcting inaccurate trend updates and ensuring ACOs are not held accountable for fraud, waste, and abuse. Recently, we coordinated a sign-on letter with more than 120 members expressing appreciation for CMS’ ongoing support of accountable care. We’ll be highlighting our positions and resources on the issues highlighted in the letter on a new website, ModernizeACOs.org. Over the past month, we have had strong engagement with the administration, including:
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- Discussing new models with CMMI leadership; we continue to look forward to reviewing the LEAD Request for Applications, which is expected to be released mid-April.
- Discussing the GEO AHEAD model with members in AHEAD states; and
- Providing a forum for members to share challenges and solutions for ACO quality reporting through a series of listening sessions with CMS.
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We value the strong, collaborative relationships we’ve built with CMS leadership and remain committed to working together to advance and strengthen ACO success. We also encourage members to share their expertise directly with regulators. Please let us know if you need support with outreach.
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NAACOS JOINS WITH OTHERS TO FIGHT SKIN SUBSTITUTE LAWSUIT |
After CMS’ payment policy update for skin substitutes was challenged in a Northern Texas District court, NAACOS worked with several organizations and members to submit an amicus brief in support of CMS’ policy. Judge Reed O’Connor has now dismissed the lawsuit, paving the way for CMS to continue to use its authority to set payment for skin substitutes, cutting wasteful spending.
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ACOS SEND RECOMMENDATIONS TO CMS TO MODERNIZE ACCOUNTABLE CARE |
NAACOS coordinated sign on letter with more than 120 members expressing our appreciation for CMS’ continued support of accountable care.
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The letter outlines recommendations NAACOS has shared with Medicare leaders privately. |
- Embrace innovation by:
- Improving cash flow options through capitation and less restrictive advanced payments,
- Expanding beneficiary participation through improved alignment approaches,
- Removing burdensome quality reporting requirements, and
- Streamlining burdensome regulations and aligning innovation across MSSP and LEAD.
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- Accelerate transformation by:
- Holding ACOs harmless for fraud, waste, and abuse,
- Fixing inaccurate trend adjustments, and
- Addressing the benchmark ratchet.
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NAACOS LEADS COALITION LETTER TO CONGRESS ON APM INCENTIVES |
NAACOS led a coalition letter with our partners in the Alliance for Value-Based Patient Care to congressional committee leaders thanking them for extending the Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) incentive payments in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations law. The letter also outlines several recommendations as Congress considers long-term Medicare payment reforms.
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DOES YOUR ACO HAVE ON-STAFF LOBBYISTS OR GR PROFESSIONALS? |
Share the contact information of your organization’s government relations (GR) 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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LAWMAKERS PROBE HEALTH CARE COSTS AND MEDICARE OVERSIGHT |
Congressional health policy activity continues this week with several hearings examining costs, oversight, and care delivery across the health system.
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- Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: The House Energy and Commerce Oversight Subcommittee held an oversight hearing with CMS Deputy Administrator and COO, Kim Brandt, as part of the subcommittee’s ongoing work on addressing waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Affordability: The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing with hospital and physician associations examining the U.S. provider landscape.
- Kidney Care: The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing on kidney health and preventative and innovative treatments.
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Lawmakers are expected to continue examining health care affordability, fraud and abuse, and system cost drivers, while the administration urges congressional Republicans to consider policy approaches aligned with President Trump’s Most Favored Nation model framework.
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MEDPAC SENDS MARCH REPORT TO CONGRESS |
The annual report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released in March 2026 provides Congress with recommendations on Medicare payment policy and program performance across fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage. As with prior reports, MedPAC’s recommendations are advisory but are intended to guide congressional deliberations on future Medicare payment and program reforms.
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CMS RELEASED MAHA ELEVATE MODEL NOTICE OF
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY |
Organizations can now apply to participate in the MAHA ELEVATE Model and organizations participating in MSSP are eligible to apply. NAACOS will be planning a webinar for late March to outline the model and application process. An initial letter of intent is due to CMS by April 10 for any interested applicants. Read more about the model on our site and stay tuned for an upcoming webinar on the model.
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CMS RELEASED PY27 MSSP APPLICATION TIMELINE |
CMS has released the Performance Year 2027 application dates. Phase 1 Applications will be due between June 9 and June 23, 2026, at 12:00 pm ET. Read more on the CMS website.
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SEEKING SUCCESS TOGETHER: A SNF 3-DAY WAVIER DISCOVERY CALL |
Join us on March 24 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET for a discovery call on implementing a SNF 3-day waiver. We will review the basic guidelines for SNF waivers and highlight key differences across MSSP, REACH, and TEAM models. We will also hear lessons learned and successes on implementation from peers. Discussion will include opening the conversation on contracting and implementation workflows such as how to implement a 3-day waiver for a patient at home or from the office and educating staff at hospitals and the admitting SNFs.
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REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR DATA & ANALYTICS BOOT CAMP IN JUNE |
Ready to strengthen your understanding of data-driven health care?
Our Data & Analytics Boot Camp 101 offers a dynamic, three-day virtual learning series designed for a beginner-to-intermediate audience. Through these interactive sessions, you’ll explore the fundamentals of Medicare accountable care and population health, learning how data and analytics shape performance improvement.
Whether you’re new to health care analytics or looking to deepen your knowledge, this Boot Camp will help you build a solid foundation for success in today’s evolving health care environment. Register today. |
START STRONG WITH PRE-CONFERENCE WOKSHOPS AT SPRING CONFERENCE |
Kick off your conference experience with an optional pre-conference workshop on Wednesday, April 22, from 1:00–5:00 pm. These workshops run concurrently and require separate registration from the main conference. Workshops available are:
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Buy, Build, or Use Embedded Technology Solutions chaired by Kaite Huttman and Brian Kresge, NAACOS
Buying, building, and how best to integrate embedded technology tools, are universal questions healthcare organizations face. During this preconference session, participants will learn from their peers about the latest inputs to this equation and leave with a framework for making these decisions. Participants will hear firsthand from NAACOS members who bought and those that built. Hear their experiences, lessons learned, and long-term sustainability for evaluating technologies such as predictive models, clinical decision support, AI, machine learning and natural language processing, with a focus on cost such as workflow integration, implementation timelines, and organizational readiness.
Moving to Value Based Care (Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?) chaired by Richard Bitting, Jefferson Health
This preconference workshop will focus on getting leadership on board and helping them understand the economic value of moving to value-based care contracting. Sessions will also include evaluating the financial value proposition, evaluating risk, risk readiness, analytic/reporting needs, prioritization, reconciliations/audits, funds flow and roundtable discussions.
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The main conference, taking place April 23–24 at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, will feature insights from leading health care experts and CMS insiders, offering an in-depth look at the strategies shaping today’s health care transformation. Attendees will benefit from engaging presentations, panel discussions, and valuable networking opportunities with peers, speakers, and vendors to connect, collaborate, and share best practices.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of three days filled with learning, connection, and growth. Register now and make sure you’re part of the conference everyone will be talking about! |
- Health Affairs
highlighted CMS’ intent to more fully integrate specialists into value-based care through the new Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM), addressing gaps in specialist engagement, fragmented incentives, and the lack of meaningful performance accountability in specialty care. Providers have raised concerns about the model’s administrative burden, the risk of being held accountable for outcomes beyond their control, and the financial uncertainty that specialists may face under the payment adjustments.
- AJMC article reports that Medicare Advantage is expected to see an unprecedented spike in “forced disenrollment” in 2026 due to widespread plan exits. Rural markets could experience the most severe impact, raising significant concerns about reduced access to providers, disruptions in care continuity, and specialty care availability.
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