Growing Numbers of Medicare Providers and Beneficiaries in Accountable Care Models
In accordance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) strategic plan to move all beneficiaries into accountable care models, they have announced significant progress on that goal with the numbers of providers and patients in 2023 participating in one of three models: the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO REACH) Model, and the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) Model. The MSSP is the largest initiative in the country that holds a group of providers responsible for the cost and quality of an entire population; in 2023, there is a decrease in the number of MSSPs to 456. Additionally, the ACO REACH Model has grown to 132 participants, and 2023 has seen an emphasis on underserved populations, with more than twice the number of federally-qualified health centers, rural health centers, and critical access hospitals participating. The KCC model now includes 130 participating organizations (nearly doubling from 2022), with a wider geographic reach. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has more information on where these models are operating and who is participating.