A March 21 article in Part B News, ACO REACH tweaks help smaller group practices, promote health equity,” discussed the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (REACH) model, which was announced on February 24 as a replacement for the CMS Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) model. Both programs are from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Rivkin Radler’s Chris Kutner was quoted in the article.

Chris said, “There are gaps in what people can obtain as far as access to health care services goes, so the concept of this is good. The challenge is engaging individuals to advocate for their own health care. Unfortunately, in underserved communities, where people may have two jobs or one-parent families, maybe they don’t know the questions to ask.”

Since the February announcement, CMMI has issued a Request for Applications, which are due by April 22, and must be submitted by portal. Applicants may include current GPDC entrants who want to remain in the program when it turns into ACO REACH, as well as new groups interested in value-based design. There is much more information available on the CMS website, including recorded webinars on the ACO REACH model.