FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 9, 2025
Contact: Tamara Moore, [email protected], (202) 908-6899
NAACOS Honors 2025 Excellence Award Recipients
Jefferson Health, Nebraska Health Network, and WellSpan Health recognized for their outstanding commitment to accountable care
WASHINGTON (October 9, 2025) – The National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) has awarded Jefferson Health, Nebraska Health Network, and WellSpan Health with its 2025 Excellence Awards recognizing outstanding commitment to and accomplishments in accountable care. The organizations were honored at NAACOS’ Fall Conference.
“These three organizations stand as leaders in accountable care, having fully embraced its principles across their culture and operations,” said Emily Brower, president and chief executive officer of NAACOS. “Through pioneering care models, strategic community partnerships, and advanced use of data and technology, they continue to drive innovation and better health outcomes for the people and communities they serve.”
Jefferson Health is accountable for nearly 750,000 patients in value-based care relationships including those with Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance. The organization is committed to creating unparalleled value with a focus on collaborative and comprehensive care to improve patient outcomes and reduce health costs, with clear year-over-year improvements across quality measures. Additionally, Jefferson’s cross-sector partnerships have helped build meaningful partnerships in support of the communities it serves. For example, its community health worker academy has built a pipeline to support the organization’s Blood Pressure Buddy program that connects with hard-to-engage patients to support unique health needs.
Nebraska Health Network is jointly owned by Methodist Health System and Nebraska Medicine and participates in 14 value-based agreements that include more than 220,000 patients across Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial plans. At the heart of NHN’s success is an integrated technology infrastructure that transforms data into actionable insights, driving communication of performance and opportunities. NHN’s strategic priorities holistically address patient needs across primary care, social needs, care coordination and post-acute care.
WellSpan Health, an integrated delivery system, cares for more than 270,000 patients in value-based relationships. WellSpan engages a broad network of providers throughout the communities it serves. Through data access and transparency, shared accountability, and aligned goals, these strategic partnerships have been a foundation of WellSpan’s success and growth in accountable care over the past 12 years. Its total cost of care model looks to lower spending while improving quality and outcomes, utilizing evidence-based pathways and Zone tools for select chronic conditions. These improvement initiatives are implemented in a payer agnostic way, bringing the benefits of accountable care to all patients throughout the WellSpan network.
The Excellence Awards, started in 2024, recognize high-performing organizations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to and accomplishments in value-based care. Recipients of the award exemplify how value-based care can transform health care delivery by improving quality and outcomes, lowering or slowing growth of costs, and increasing patient and provider satisfaction. Through their ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration and accountability in health care, the honored organizations demonstrate NAACOS’ mission of advancing provider-led transformation toward better care, improved health, and smarter spending.
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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.