The CMS LEAD Model: The Right Fit for Your Physician Practice or LTC Facility
If you manage a physician practice or long-term care (LTC) facility serving high-needs seniors, but haven’t yet moved to value-based care, now is the time! CMS has introduced a new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) that’s purpose-built for you and your patients.
The Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model is a 10-year accountable care framework focused on high-needs seniors. LEAD not only offers an on ramp for those new to accountable care, it represents a pivotal opportunity to take an active seat at the table, unlocking a new level of financial performance while improving outcomes and the patient/family experience.
More details are available on the CMS Website.
The CMS LEAD program begins January 1, 2027, and risk pools are locking in early. Do not leave your performance to chance. Contact Us today to learn how you can maximize your savings and successfully navigation the model before the year starts.
What makes LEAD a good fit for LTC practices and facilities?
LEAD includes upfront monthly payments.
Through consistent capitated payments, tools to partner with specialists, and new Benefit Enhancements that incentivize beneficiaries to seek care from high-value ACOs, LEAD gives participants powerful new resources to expand your care delivery, engage patients, and succeed in accountable care.
LEAD is designed for complex, high-needs patients.
LEAD is designed to integrate care and reduce the costs of frail, homebound and medically complex seniors, including those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid—the very populations that reside in nursing homes and LTC settings.
LEAD’s 10-year term promises stability.
LEAD has a 10-year performance period, the longest CMS model ever introduced, and won’t recalculate financial benchmarks. The extended duration is designed to provide consistent, reliable payments, ideally encouraging groups to invest the revenue in program enhancements that further improve care and reduce costs, such as AI and other technology, more staff, after-hours support, and remote monitoring.
Lead enables stronger clinical integration to improve outcomes and experience.
LEAD emphasizes coordinated, proactive, preventive care, encouraging deeper collaboration among physicians, specialists, and long-term care teams.
Gain guaranteed savings and the experience of the nation’s top-performing high-needs ACO when you work with CareConnectMD
The LEAD model creates a unique opportunity for physician practices and facilities, but success depends on choosing the right ACO partner. With its advanced clinical model, track record of top-tier performance, and decades of experience delivering care to seniors, CareConnectMD stands apart as a proven leader in value-based care for high-needs, LTC populations. We make your ACO participation simple, easy, and financially rewarding.
CCMD offers guaranteed revenue per beneficiary to all partners.
Request Your Personal Review of our guarantee.
CCMD has a proven track record in high-needs ACO performance.
CareConnectMD is nationally recognized as the No. 1 high-needs ACO in CMS’s ACO REACH model, consistently demonstrating our ability to simultaneously improve outcomes and reduce costs:¹
Industry-leading savings
A 97% average quality score
A 23% reduction in hospital readmissions
An 80% patient and family satisfaction rate
CCMD’s clinical model is purpose-built for complex patients.
Just like you, CCMD is also experienced in caring for frail, elderly, and medically complex patients. Our clinical practice has been serving this population for 30 years. Our proven clinical model is purpose-built for their needs and includes advanced analytics and technology; operational support tailored to your workflows; and proven strategies to reduce hospitalizations and total cost of care. Our clinical model includes:
On-site care coordinators (NPs)
After-hours on-call support
Annual comprehensive clinical checks
Chronic disease management
Advanced care planning
FamilyConnect Concierge Service
CCMD has decades of experience delivering compassionate, patient-centered care.
At the heart of CareConnectMD’s model is a simple but powerful philosophy: treat every patient like family. This commitment to compassionate, personalized care aligns directly with the mission of long-term care providers and operators—and ensures that financial performance and patient well-being always go hand-in-hand.
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