LEAD (the Long-term Enhanced ACO Design) Model is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center’s newest accountable care organization (ACO) payment model, running for 10 years from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2036. ACOs have until May 17, 2026 to apply at https://app.innovation.cms.gov/LEAD/IDMLogin if they want to participate in the model.
Here are additional resources about LEAD:
- Organizations have a number of things to consider when determining whether to participate. Our Wakely experts wrote a recent blog post, LEAD: The Big Shift Beyond Attribution and Benchmarks-Quality as a Cash Flow Lever, that outlines differences between LEAD and older models, and what challenges organizations might face.
- We’ve also launched an informative website on LEAD that provides a comprehensive overview of every aspect of the model, from eligibility and alignment through financial settlement and quality measurement. This will be updated regularly as new information comes to light about the new model. Go to https://www.wakely.com/lead-model/ to learn more.
- Our recent whitepaper outlines Risks Facing 2027 LEAD Model Participants and things that might impact newly enrolled ACOs in the first year of the program. Year 1 may be the highest-risk year of the entire 10-year commitment—not because of your clinical strategy, but because of what you can’t know at decision time.
Wakely supports a range of providers who take risk participating in value-based payment models in MA, government programs, and commercial insurance lines of business. Learn more at https://www.wakely.com/value-based-payment-insights-for-providers/
If you’d like to learn more about how LEAD will impact your organization, or have already applied, and want to learn how to best mitigate your risk profile in LEAD, contact one of our authors below and request a consultation.
