Lessons From Five Years Of The CMS Accountable Health Communities Model

Health Affairs August 8, 2022
Kate Abowd Johnson, Natalia Barolin, Christine Ogbue, Katherine Verlander

Providers and payers are increasingly addressing the health-related social needs (HRSNs) of their patients to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and address health disparities. As this practice takes hold in the field, the landmark Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model test that launched in 2017 has now ended. AHC was the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) first model test focused on evaluating HRSN screening, referral, and navigation. It was built on emerging interventions in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Medicaid Managed Care, Medicaid health homes, and home and community-based services programs.

Early evidence from the AHC Model is promising, and there are many lessons to share as we aim to continue addressing HRSNs and social determinants of health for Medicare and...

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