Hospice News August 25, 2023
Three principles are guiding the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2024 updates to the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) model: care coordination, managing health equity-related risks and social determinants of health.
Among a number of new requirements, the agency will also require participating organizations to develop and implement a health equity plan to identify underserved communities in their markets. Participants will also have to develop initiatives to address those health disparities.
Going forward, CMS will also tie improvements in health equity to payment, a key new component of the program that is closely linked with social determinants of health.
“The ability to recognize low-income subsidy status and a state-based area deprivation...