Follow the money: Accountable care can be a good fit with MAHA

For accountable care organizations, there are reasons to be enthusiastic for new health care policy under the administration of President Donald J. Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Accountable for Health CEO Mara McDermott, JD, explains more. She refers to the Medicare payment models Long-term Enhanced ACO Design Model (LEAD), ACO REACH, and Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS).

Medical Economics: Can you discuss the current administration's policy and attitudes toward accountable care, and how does accountable care fit in with the movement to Make America Healthy Again?

Mara McDermott, JD: It's a great question. I think we see a ton of enthusiasm around accountable care and, in particular, two-sided risk, right? So we've seen most recently the announcement that the LEAD ACO model is coming as a successor to ACO REACH. Our membership is super excited about that. We've had a lot of enthusiasm around ACCESS. There have been a ton of announcements of late, but I think that demonstration underscores the commitment to modernizing the way that care is delivered, to trying to incorporate some of the MAHA themes around prevention and preventive care, incorporating, sort of like a whole-person view of health, health care, with nutrition and other things. I think one thing that's been very encouraging to us is the administration's focus on complex patient populations. So we see that theme carried throughout the LEAD announcement around a continuity strategy for high-needs REACH ACO, and I think a lot of interest in helping patients across their in their health care journey, particularly as they get toward the end of life. So, we see a lot to be enthusiastic about. I was in my own reflecting in the new year, compared to a year ago, where I think there were a lot of questions about this administration’s strategy around accountable care organizations and value-based care in general. I think that what we've seen is a really strong embrace of value-based care and a desire to continue to build on what has worked, which are two-sided risk models.