2023
January 13, 2023 – The Value Based Care Coalition submitted comments to Senators Cassidy (R-LA), Carper (D-DE), Scott (R-SC), Warner (D-VA), Cornyn (R-TX), and Menendez (D-NJ) addressing their Request for Information (RFI) on efforts to improve coverage for individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles). The Coalition encouraged Congress to consider expanding existing programs and piloting new demonstration projects. The Coalition also highlighted that data collection efforts should include additional demographic and socioeconomic factors. Finally, the Coalition noted the importance of ensuring access for dual eligibles in non-urban and underserved areas. | Read the Full Letter
2022
October 31, 2022 – The Value Based Care Coalition submitted comments to Representatives Bera (D-CA), Bucshon (R-IN), Schrier (D-WA), Burgess (R-TX), Blumenauer (D-OR), Wenstrup (R-OH), Schneider (D-IL), and Miller-Meeks (R-IA) addressing their Request for Information (RFI) on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). The Coalition encouraged Congress to extend the advanced alternative payment model (APM) bonus and create clearer incentives to join advanced APMs. The Coalition also proposed a new structure for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and APMs. Finally, the Coalition outlined recommendations for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to create stability and transparency in delivery models. | Read the Full Letter
September 28, 2022 – The Value Based Care Coalition joined more than 800 health care associations, accountable care organizations (ACOs), medical practices, and health systems to urge leaders in Congress in a letter sent to extend advanced alternative payment model (A-APM) incentive payments. These incentives expire at the end of the year without Congressional action. The letter calls on lawmakers to extend the incentives to allow more time for a greater number of providers to move into APMs, which have shown an ability to improve quality and lower overall cost of care. | Read the Full Letter
September 6, 2022 – The Value Based Care Coalition submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing various Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) policy proposals included in the Calendar Year (CY) 2023 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The Coalition strongly supports the Administration’s goal of ensuring that every Medicare beneficiary is in a care relationship with accountability for quality and total cost of care by 2030. The Coalition urged CMS to adopt policies that promote increased data availability and transparency, that promote financial stability and predictability, that establish reasonable and accurate spending benchmarks, and that support providers seeking to expand care into underserved communities. | Read the Full Letter
August 31, 2022 – The Value Based Care Coalition submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing the agency’s Request for Information (RFI) on various aspects of the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. The Coalition encouraged CMS to consider opportunities to bring greater stability and transparency to the Innovation Center accountable care organization (ACO) portfolio and seek alignment of risk adjustment methodologies to the greatest extent possible. The Coalition also encouraged the agency to ensure that health equity frameworks offer meaningful incentives to plans and providers in all states. | Read the Full Letter
2021
September 27, 2021 – In a letter to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), Next Gen Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) express their concerns regarding methodological impacts reflected in the Q2 financial reports. ACOs have observed significant swings in their Q2 reports and are looking for some additional information from CMMI to help them better understand the impact of national and regional variation on their performance. | Read the Full Letter
September 13, 2021 – The Value Based Care Coalition submitted comments addressing various Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) policy proposals included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. | Read the Full Letter
August 5, 2021 – In a letter to the Biden Administration, 29 Valued Based Care Coalition Members and Partners, providing care to over one million patients in value based models, committed to increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates in their local communities. | Read the Full Letter and Press Release
July 16, 2021 – Next Gen ACO Coalition continues to engage with CMS to advance value based care, with a particular focus on models that enable providers to take on clinical and financial accountability through two-sided risk. In a letter to new CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Next Gen ACO Coalition outlines several important steps CMS can take to accelerate the adoption of two-sided risk, total cost of care models. | Read the Full Letter
April 13, 2021 – Medicare has led the value movement through a key mechanism found in its accountable care organization (ACO) models. In September 2020, CMS released performance results demonstrating that ACOs have achieved $1.2 billion in annual net savings relative to benchmarks. Among these ACO models, Next Gen stands out as a pathway for participating entities to elect full risk and reward while receiving operational and financial flexibility. | Read the Full Letter
2020
December 2, 2020 – Next Generation ACO Coalition participants joined 501 practices across the country today calling on Congressional leaders to act to ensure access to strong financial incentives for clinicians participating in two-sided risk models that deliver high quality, coordinated, cost-effective care. | Read the Full Letter
October 6, 2020 – The Next Gen ACO Coalition submitted comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule. The letter responds to the agency’s proposals, including a proposal to transition Medicare ACOs to a new quality reporting system and performance standards and proposals around the advanced alternative payment model (APM) thresholds to qualify for a five percent incentive payment. | Read the Full Letter
June 23, 2020 – On behalf of the Next Generation ACO Coalition, we write to thank you for the flexibilities you have implemented, including extending Next Gen for 2021, and request additional modifications to the program to bolster the move to performance-based risk. | Read the Full Feedback Document
April 7, 2020 – The Next Gen ACO Coalition, which represents 20 of the Next Generation ACOs, is requesting that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services use its regulatory authority to freeze the MACRA patient count threshold for Advanced APM bonus eligibility at current levels. The attached document outlines the challenges presented by planned threshold increases, especially during a time when Next Generation ACOs are marshaling all possible resources to combat COVID-19. | Read the Full Letter
January 28, 2020 – Next Gen ACO Coalition’s feedback on the Direct Contracting Model, including 1. Why CMMI should reduce the financial exposure in the Direct Contracting (DC) Model, 2. Why CMMI should modify the quality measure set and provide additional information about the Continuous Improvement/Sustained Exceptional Performance (CI/SEP) criteria, 3. Why CMMI should reduce regulatory burdens on DC applicants, and 4. Why CMMI should provide additional support and clarification for DCEs | Read the Full Feedback Document
2019
May 30, 2019 – The Next Generation ACO model has demonstrated that organizations can be successful in taking two-sided financial risk. The evaluation of the first performance year of Next Gen resulted in an estimated $63 million in net savings or a 1.1 percent decline in Medicare spending while maintaining quality for patients. | Read the Full Letter
May 30, 2019 – The undersigned organizations write to encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to expand the duration and scope of the NGACO model to be a permanent, voluntary offering in the performance-based risk model portfolio beginning with the 2021 performance year. Participants in the NGACO model have demonstrated success in terms of controlling costs for Medicare and improving care for seniors. Extending the availability of this model will allow additional providers to pursue the transition to improved care outcomes and greater levels of financial accountability. | Read the Full Letter
March 26, 2019 – The undersigned organizations write to encourage the CMS Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) to continue to improve transparency and stability as you develop a successful portfolio of payment models. While we appreciate steps the agency has taken, such as hosting stakeholder roundtable discussions to gather input, we ask that the Innovation Center move to a more methodical and public process for releasing and updating payment models. | Read the Full Letter
2018
October 17, 2018 – The Next Gen Coalition submitted comments on proposed changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program. In our letter, we ask that CMS to make the Next Gen program a permanent offering in its Medicare risk portfolio. We also call on the agency to continue to improve transparency and stability while incentivizing the move to performance-based risk. | Read the Full Letter
September 6, 2018 – 26 Next Gen ACOs sent a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma and Deputy Administrator for Innovation and Quality, Adam Boehler. The letter asks that CMS eliminate the three percent ceiling on changes to risk scores, while maintaining the three percent floor; commit to a more predictable and stable payment methodology; and preserve and strengthen the Next Gen program. | Read the Full Letter
