The Medicare Shared Savings Program, or MSSP, is the largest ACO program in Medicare with 10.3 million beneficiaries covered by almost 480 ACOs. Participating ACOs receive a portion of the savings they generate compared to a benchmark, while ACOs with spending exceeding the benchmark might have to pay a penalty. The goal is to improve…

Both the greatest strength and weakness of the ACO shared savings (MSSP) model is its focus on primary care, particularly chronic disease. ACOs have put patients with diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions usually handled through primary care physicians at the center of care coordination, population health, and care management. But as CMS Value-Based Care’s central…

Mounting financial pressures, workforce shortages, and rising patient demand are pushing health systems to rethink how they deliver care. The traditional hospital-centered model is giving way to strategies that prioritize prevention, access, and efficiency. By embracing value-based care and new technologies, organizations aim to curb costly emergency visits, ease capacity strains, and deliver better outcomes…