V28 is no longer a transition issue. It is the live operating environment for Medicare Advantage risk adjustment in 2026. CMS completed the three-year phase-in of the 2024 CMS-HCC model for CY 2026, meaning plans and providers are now operating under the full model rather than a blended version. That makes mid-year the right moment…
Provider health systems and hospitals are under growing pressure to assume greater financial accountability for the total cost of care. Federal and state payers and some commercial health plans are accelerating the move from fee-for-service (FFS) payments to value-based care (VBC) models, including high-risk hospital global budget models. Hospital global budget methodologies establish fixed annual…
Despite decades of progress in oncology, ranging from molecular diagnostics to targeted therapies, cancer remains one of medicine’s most complex and costly challenges. While genomic sequencing and AI-assisted analytics have improved disease classification, biomarker identification, and the discovery of drugs that may help, most patients are still treated using standardized protocols driven by population-level data rather…
While reviewing claims data patterns in quarter three (Q3) of 2025, Milliman observed a significant increase in paid amounts for claims billed under Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code A4352—intermittent urinary catheter; coudé (curved) tip, with or without coating (Teflon, silicone, silicone elastomeric, or hydrophilic, etc.), each—that deviates from historical trends and could have…
The healthcare industry is at a critical inflection point and the promise of value-based care is at risk due to operational complexity and clinician burnout. AI offers a potential lifeline to streamline processes and restore focus on patient care. However, widespread adoption is stalling. Concerns around trust, transparency, and usability are slowing progress. This isn’t just…
When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) and the AIM for Health Equity and Accountable Care Growth (AHEAD) model, it wasn’t tinkering with policy at the margins — it was redefining what hospitals are accountable for. The new rules make one truth unavoidable: the hospital’s responsibility doesn’t…
It takes a village. Moving toward value-based care (VBC) in the U.S. healthcare system requires engagement and cooperation from multiple players. Stakeholders include accountable care organizations, social service and community-based organizations, multiple payers, and a range of providers. Ideally, these groups and individuals work seamlessly together to create multiple policies and payment strategies inherent to VBC…
In late July, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced updates to the ACO Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH) model beginning in performance year (PY) 2025.1 This announcement coincided with the recent publication by CMMI of the Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model PY2022 Evaluation Report, which cites some of the early…
The transition towards value-based care (VBC) is rapidly reshaping the healthcare landscape. While this shift holds immense promise for improving patient outcomes and reducing costs, it also presents a unique set of challenges that demand careful consideration for successful contract negotiations and management. In this blog post Milliman MedInsight product manager, Umang Gupta, explains the…
A new report, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, summarizes interviews with executives at 21 organizations involved in value-based care. The report focuses on the barriers to and facilitators of data integration in support of value-based…