January 5, 2026
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model as the Innovation Center’s next Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, which will focus on reaching more health-care providers who have not joined ACOs, while providing care for patients, including those with high needs, such as dual eligibles and those who are homebound or home limited.
CMS notes that, “LEAD’s improved benchmarking methodology and other design features will support smaller, independent, or rural-based practices and those who serve patients with more complex challenges that have faced financial and administrative obstacles to being in ACOs previously.”
LEAD is a 10-year voluntary model that runs from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2036. ACOs can apply to participate in the model by responding to a Request for Applications, which will begin in March 2026.
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