S2 E5: What’s Next for Value-Based Care: New CMS Models & Technology-Enabled Care

This episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered explores the future of value-based care and what it means for community health centers as federal policy continues to evolve. The conversation focuses on new initiatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including the ACCESS and LEAD models, which aim to shift the health system away from volume-based care toward outcomes-driven, coordinated, and technology-enabled care.

Featuring Emily Brower, CEO of the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOS), the episode breaks down how these new models are designed to expand accountable care and improve prevention and chronic disease management while also examining whether they truly reflect the realities of the safety net. The discussion highlights key challenges facing community health centers, including limited infrastructure, complex patient populations, attribution issues, and disparities in access to technology.

Ultimately, the episode underscores that while value-based care is accelerating, its success will depend on whether policymakers meaningfully include and support community health centers. Without intentional design and investment, these models risk leaving behind the very providers who serve the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

Show Notes

• ACCESS: https://www.naacos.com/access-the-power-will-be-in-partnerships/
• LEAD: LEAD (Long-term Enhanced ACO Design) Model | CMS
• In the News: Will The New CMS ACO Model LEAD To Better Care For High-Need Medicare Beneficiaries? | Health Affairs
• AHEAD: AHEAD (Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design) Model | CMS and Geo AHEAD Factsheet
• NAACOS: Learn more about the NAACOS Spring Conference in April 2026 agenda and register to join.