United States of Care Statement on CMS Innovation Center’s Announcement on Future of Payment Reform Models

Washington, D.C. — Today, United States of Care (USofCare), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable health care, reacted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center’s (Innovation Center) announcement on the future of their payment reform models, which include prioritizing equity, growing transparency, and strengthening beneficiary protections in the transitioned ACO REACH Model. USofCare has engaged with the Innovation Center, working to bring together different voices and lessons from our public engagement research to help inform their future strategy. In particular, last April USofCare provided recommendations on how the Innovation Center can ground their work in people’s needs and keep equity at the forefront. 

USofCare’s two years of listening work has found that people want a system that is more affordable, dependable, personalized, and understandable. The CMS Innovation Center has an important role to play in testing new approaches to payment and care to help align the system with people’s needs – without causing major disruptions to the health care system. 

In response to today’s announcement, Natalie Davis, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of United States of Care said: 

“United States of Care’s research finds that people want a health care system that treats them as a whole person and provides care when and how they need it. More than anything, people want a health care system that doesn’t cause them to fear financial ruin. 

“Today’s announcement underscores the importance of keeping innovation in the CMS Innovation Center. We’re pleased to see that the Innovation Center is committed to making adjustments as needed to their payment models, while continuing to learn what works to deliver better, more equitable care. To improve people’s experiences with health care, we must remain open to changing the parts of health care that aren’t working – including the ways we pay for care. Encouraging wrap-around care, putting people first, and lowering costs are all laudable goals that we should continue to pursue.”

About United States of Care

United States of Care is a nonpartisan organization committed to ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care. For more information, visit unitedstatesofcare.org.