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Updates for Members and Partners
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NAACOS’ DRAFT PFS COMMENTS AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS
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NAACOS is pleased to provide draft comments in response to the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. Member login is required to view and download a copy of the draft comments. We encourage members to use our comments in their responses. If you have suggested edits or additions to NAACOS comments, please contact [email protected]. Comments on the proposed rule are due to CMS on September 12, 2025.
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MSSP ACO PY2024 FINANCIAL AND QUALITY RESULTS NOW PUBLIC
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CMS released the Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations Performance Year 2024 Financial and Quality Results on August 28. NAACOS is excited to see the continued year-over-year success of ACOs. For more information, please see the NAACOS statement, CMS Factsheet and the Public Use Files.
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VALUE-BASED PAYMENT SUMMIT FEATURES NAACOS LEADERSHIP
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This week’s virtual Value-Based Payment Summit, taking place through September 5, 2025, features remarks from current and past CMS and CMMI leadership, with keynote addresses by Chris Klomp and Abe Sutton. The agenda includes sessions with NAACOS’ Emily Brower and Aisha Pittman, as well as speakers from organizations represented on NAACOS’ board and committees, members of the Alliance for Value-Based Patient Care, and other leading experts in payment and delivery reform. Participants will receive access to all archived session recordings following the event. Join in for the last day of the summit to attend the great sessions!
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TIGHT TIMELINE FOR CONGRESS TO FUND GOVERNMENT AND EXTEND HEALTH PROGRAMS
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Congress returned this week from its August recess. Lawmakers face a packed legislative agenda and a narrowing window to act on a few key priorities, including passing a government funding package before the end of the fiscal year on September 30 and advancing a slate of critical health care “extenders” that are also set to expire. While the House and Senate may pursue different paths on appropriations, leaders from both parties have acknowledged the likely need for a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. Negotiations over topline spending levels, policy riders, and emergency supplemental funding—especially for disaster relief and global conflicts—will complicate the process. NAACOS staff will continue to update members on late-breaking developments as key deadlines near.
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CMS ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO THE AHEAD MODEL
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On September 2, CMS announced key changes, including a new name to the “Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design” (AHEAD) model to help advance the Innovation Center’s strategic pillars. Other updates to the model include:
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- Implementing a geographic attribution component for traditional Medicare beneficiaries not attributed to other Medicare ACO programs.
- Requiring that participating states/regions implement at least two policies focused on promoting choice and competition in their health care markets.
- Adding a new “Population Health Accountability Plan” to the model to emphasize preventive care.
- Establishing new transparency requirements around total cost of care and primary care investment targets in the model.
- Extending the model to run through December 31, 2035 for all cohorts.
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HHS SEEKS NOMINATIONS TO SERVE ON FEDERAL HEALTHCARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve on the new Healthcare Advisory Committee, which will provide strategic recommendations to the HHS Secretary and CMS Administrator. The new advisory committee is intended to improve health care payment and delivery across federal programs. CMS encourages individuals with expertise in chronic disease prevention and management, federally administered health care financing, and delivery system reform to apply. Nominations are due by September 22; additional information is available.
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REGISTER FOR 3RD QUARTER PARTNER CALL TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL SPONSOR PACKAGES
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NAACOS Partners! Join us on September 18 at 12:30 pm ET for an engaging and informative call exclusively for Partner Circle, Business Partners, and Alliance Partners. NAACOS staff will provide an update on our latest initiatives and new opportunities for you to engage with our value-based care audience. Hear about maximizing your Fall Conference opportunities and take advantage of special discounted sponsorship packages at the conference and beyond! Don’t miss this chance to fully utilize the benefits of your NAACOS partnership. This meeting is only open to Partners.
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DON’T MISS OUR UPCOMING SEPTEMBER REGIONAL MEETINGS
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Register today for the upcoming regional meetings occurring in September. These regional meetings provide an opportunity to engage in value-based care presentations and discussions with regional health care leaders from provider groups, payers, and thought leaders from the care continuum in value-based care contracts. Registration is open for the Northwest Virtual Meeting, and Southeast Virtual Meeting,.
In addition, we are starting to plan for an in person South Central/Gulf regional meeting scheduled for early 2026. If you are interested in joining a focus group to help shape this meeting, please email [email protected].
Our regional events are open to NAACOS members, non-member ACOs, and value-based care providers. In-person events are $250 per registrant, and each NAACOS ACO and value-based care provider member receives one complimentary registration per calendar year, with additional unlimited additional registrations to be purchased at the prevailing rate. Contact [email protected] to utilize your complimentary registration or with any questions. These events are not open to non-sponsoring business partners.
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If you are interested in speaking on any of the agenda topics listed for your region, please reply to [email protected]. Watch for updates and additional registration links in future newsletters and on our Regional Meeting Webpage.
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TAKE A DEEP DIVE WITH A PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP THIS FALL
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Connect and learn at the Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C., on October 8-10 at the Fall 2025 Conference! The agenda features expert-led sessions and in conjunction with the main conference, we offer pre-conference workshops that take a deep dive into key issues facing the industry. Pre-conference workshops are held concurrently on Wednesday, October 8 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm ET. These workshops require separate registration from the main meeting. Topics include:
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- Payer-Provider Partnerships in the Community chaired by Diwen Chen, NAACOS
- Compliance & Legal Scuba Session chaired by Kimberly Busenbark, Wilems Resource Group
- Connected Care: Aligning Leaders, Providers and Patients for Better Outcomes chaired by Michelle Mirkovič, Southwestern Health Resources
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Register today for the in-person conference or live webcast! The entire conference will be recorded, except for the pre-conference workshops. All participants, both in-person and virtual, will be able to view any sessions they missed live for six months following the conference.
**To add a pre-conference workshop to an existing registration, please contact Emily Perron.**
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- NAACOS is co-sponsoring a Capitol Hill reception on Thursday, September 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET to celebrate primary care, value-based care momentum, and the release of The Zen Lobbyist by Gary Jacobs. NAACOS members in the D.C. area or attending the Fall Advocacy Summit are welcome to attend.
- Health and Human Services (HHS) Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee on President Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda and upcoming HHS initiatives.
- The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing to examine how artificial intelligence can improve care delivery, reduce administrative burden, and support patient engagement in the health system.
- The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) resumes their public meetings on September 4 and 5.
- In a recent Health Affairs Forefront article, authors Michael Chernew and J. Michael McWilliams offer policy solutions to address challenges with the Accountable Care Prospective Trend (ACPT).
- A recent KFF article stated that Medicare Advantage has surpassed 54 percent of eligible beneficiaries in 2025. Additionally, Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans had a 70 percent enrollment increase from 2024 to 2025. Federal spending on MA plans is currently 20 percent higher per person than traditional Medicare, totaling approximately $84 billion.
- A Modern Healthcare article stated that $665 billion of the $1.2 trillion reduction in Medicaid funding could directly affect hospitals. States may also face tough decisions on coverage and provider payments.
- A recent Health Affairs article highlighted that national health expenditures are projected to grow 7.1 percent in 2025, driven by increased use of health care services and goods post-pandemic. National health care expenditure growth (averaging 5.8 percent) is expected to outpace that for the gross domestic product (GDP) each year of the 2024–33 projection period, and result in a health share of GDP that reaches 20.3 percent by 2033.
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