NAACOS Applauds House Energy & Commerce Committee for Discussing Burden Reduction for ACOs

Statement from Emily Brower, president and chief executive officer, the National Association of ACOs

WASHINGTON (January 7, 2026) – The National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) commends the Energy & Commerce Committee for reviewing and discussing the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act (H.R. 5347) as part of their efforts to strengthen Medicare payment policies and expand access to care for seniors. The bill, introduced by Rep. Buchanan and sponsored by Reps. Panetta, Crenshaw, and LaHood, would reduce the regulatory burden on accountable care organizations (ACOs) while preserving a focus on improving patient care.

Digital quality measurement holds significant promise for advancing population health by enabling seamless, real-time performance tracking. However, the current pathway is complex, costly, and  burdensome. This legislation directly addresses concerns raised by NAACOS by requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to pilot new digital reporting methods while maintaining existing reporting options during the transition. By easing these regulatory requirements, providers can redirect resources to care delivery innovation rather than compliance.

NAACOS and its members stand ready to lead the transformation toward digital reporting through strategic approaches to improve quality measures. 

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The National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOS) is a member-led, member-governed nonprofit of nearly 500 ACOs and value-based care entities in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance working on behalf of physicians, health systems, and other providers across the nation. These value-based care providers seek to improve the quality of care while reducing costs. NAACOS represents more than 9 million beneficiary lives through Medicare’s population health-focused payment and delivery models.