NAACOS Statement on Extension of Value-Based Care Incentives

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

WASHINGTON (January 20, 2026) – The National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) commends Congress for including an extension of the Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) incentive at 3.1 percent and a freeze of qualifying thresholds in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. This retains strong incentives for clinicians to modernize care delivery while improving patient outcomes and reducing costs. Additionally, we appreciate that the package includes extensions for telehealth flexibilities and hospital at home, allowing more opportunities for beneficiaries to receive care in the setting that is most appropriate for them.

We urge Congress to pass these provisions so that we can turn our attention to crafting a sustainable, long-term approach to physician payment reform that supports the transition to high-value, patient-centered care. 

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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.