NAACOS UPGRADES ASSOCIATION SOFTWARE

Next Wednesday, July 1, NAACOS will launch a new association management system (AMS) to improve membership processing and communication. Once launched, all individuals in the NAACOS AMS will receive a password reset email to access the new portal. While many updates may not be noticeable, our event page and registration process have been updated as part of this change. If you have any issues resetting your password, logging in, or registering for an upcoming event after next Wednesday’s launch, please email Anna LaFayette.

NAACOS COMMENTS ON QUALITY MEASURE REVIEW PROCESSES

Last week, NAACOS submitted comments to the Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) on its draft policies and procedures for the pre-rulemaking measure review (PRMR) and measure set review (MSR) processes. PQM is a consensus-based entity that reviews quality measures and makes recommendations on their use in CMS programs. NAACOS and several of our member organizations participate in various PQM committees to ensure quality measures are appropriately applied to ACOs.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES CHARGES IN SKIN SUBSTITUTE FRAUD

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice filed charges against 11 individuals in connection with $4 billion in illegal kickback and health care fraud for allograft billings as part of a broader fraud takedown. ACO members were critical in helping to identify and increase awareness of the fraud, waste, and abuse in skin substitute billing. NAACOS will continue to advocate to CMS to further protect ACOs from the financial impact of inappropriate use and spending on skin substitutes. Read more about the fraud case from the New York Times (gift link) and the Department of Justice news release.

OUTLOOK FOR THIRD RECONCILIATION BILL REMAINS UNCERTAIN

House leaders continue to move forward on a potential third reconciliation package, but challenges remain in the Senate. Reconciliation allows the majority party to advance certain budget-related legislation with a simple majority vote. A third bill could include health care affordability measures paired with spending cuts targeting waste, fraud, and abuse. Challenges surrounding Reconciliation 2.0 have raised doubts about whether a third package can advance before the midterm elections, with some lawmakers openly questioning its feasibility.

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS ANNOUNCED FOR FALL

Enhance your conference experience with an optional pre-conference workshop on Wednesday, October 14 (1:00–5:00 pm). The Fall 2026 Conference, October 14–16 in Washington, D.C., features valuable insights from CMS leaders, innovative population health strategies, and proven approaches for leading high-performing accountable care organizations in a rapidly evolving health care landscape.  Separate registration is required for the conference and these two workshops:

• Trust, Transparency, and Technology: Evaluating Digital Health Partners in the Medicare App Library

• Quality Reporting at an Inflection Point: Practical Tools and the Path Forward

Register early and save!

Exhibit/sponsor applications for the fall conference are now being accepted. Reserve your space today! Please note, all sponsorships and exhibit space are on first come first served basis, and space is assigned in the order we receive applications.

JULY IN-PERSON REGIONAL MEETINGS: MIDWEST & NORTHEAST

Register today for the Midwest Regional Meeting, July 16 in Milwaukee, WI, sponsored by Innovaccer, and the Northeast Regional Meeting, on July 28 in Providence, RI, sponsored by Reveleer.

Join your regional colleagues for an interactive discussion on the hottest topics, including:

Midwest Topics:

• Alphabet Soup: Understanding New Models

• Navigating Risk Together: Payer and Provider Perspectives on the Future of VBC

• Advancing with CMMI: Leveraging People, Process, and Technology

Northeast Topics:

• Fireside Chat with Rhode Island's Health Insurance Commissioner

• Building a High-Value Acute Care at Home Program: Lessons for ACO Leaders

• Alphabet Soup: Understanding New Models

• Advancing High-Value Care Through Clinical Excellence

TRANSITIONS OF CARE SUMMIT: JULY 29 IN PROVIDENCE, RI

NAACOS will hold a half-day Transitions of Care (TOC) Summit in Providence, RI, on July 29 at the Providence Marriott Downtown from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm ET, following the Northeast Regional Meeting on July 28.  This convening looks to bring together ACOs, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and other post-acute care providers to explore transitions of care management amid evolving waivers, complex payment rules, and new opportunities for collaboration. Topics will investigate the current state of TOC, how to improve workflows and outcomes, as well as identify work to be done and how we can work together to advance patient and financial outcomes in this space.  We invite our ACOs to bring the hospital staff you work with on hospital and ED discharge protocols and key staff from the post-acute admissions and administration teams to discuss these topics as a workgroup.

If you would like to join us for this event, email Karen Fettterolf, NAACOS Education Manager, at [email protected].

• The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its June Report to Congress. In the report, the commission includes chapters on improving Medicare’s payment incentives, challenges with enrollment complexity, addressing improper payments, and how Medicare Advantage enrollment affects post-acute care provider finances.

• In a recent Health Affairs Forefront article, NAACOS CEO Emily Brower and co-authors highlight how value-based payment models can better incorporate episodes of care for chronic conditions. It emphasizes the need for careful design, particularly around episode definitions, care coordination, and aligned incentives. If designed well, these models could improve specialist engagement, quality, and cost management, while avoiding fragmentation and conflicting payment structures.

• This AJMC article warns that progress in health coverage and equity is at risk as enhanced ACA premium tax credits near expiration and Medicaid redetermination (“unwinding”) continues. These shifts are expected to increase uninsured rates, particularly among vulnerable populations, reversing recent gains in access and exacerbating longstanding disparities in care.

• The Physician-focused Payment Models Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) hosted its June public meeting last week, with discussions around patient safety, including how to incentivize patient safety in alternative payment models and how to promote patient safety through quality measurement.