14.3 million Medicare beneficiaries now in ACOs: 6 notes

CMS released participation data Feb. 4 for Medicare accountable care organizations in 2026, showing continued growth in enrollment and a record number of beneficiaries served by the Shared Savings Program.

Six things to know:

1. An estimated 14.3 million Medicare beneficiaries are receiving care coordinated by ACOs as of January 2026, up from 13.7 million in 2025, a 4.4% increase. That figure spans MSSP ACOs, CMS Innovation Center accountable care models and other models focused on total cost of care, primary care and specialty care.
2. The Shared Savings Program grew to 511 ACOs in 2026, up from 476 in 2025. CMS approved 134 applications for the program, including 72 new ACOs and 62 renewing or reentering ACOs. Those ACOs include more than 700,000 providers.

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