​​​​​​Medicare’s Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model is set to launch on January 1, 2027 – New CMS LEAD Model Aims To Expand Access To Accountable Care, Improve Health Outcomes. This model is replacing the Medicare REACH ACO model – Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health – which sunsets on December 31 of this year. 

This is a key strategy to meeting the CMS goal of having all Medicare enrollees in some type of managed care or accountable care by 2023 (see CMS Moves Closer To Accountable Care Goals With 2025 ACO Initiatives). Currently, of the 70 million Medicare beneficiaries, 35.9 million are in Medicare Advantage plans and 14.3 million are in ACOs – either the traditional Medicare Shared…