CMS Physician Fee Schedule

Over the past week, CMS has unveiled the ASPIRE model aimed at enhancing care for high-risk children under Medicaid and CHIP, introducing a new payment framework that emphasizes coordinated care for those with complex medical and behavioral health needs. This initiative seeks to incorporate an ACO approach, thereby aligning with broader value-based care goals and responding to longstanding gaps in support for these vulnerable populations. As CMS pushes forward with this program, tensions may arise as nursing homes express concerns about being left out of similar payment models, underscoring the ongoing challenges in aligning incentives across different care settings amid the shift towards value-based reimbursement. For more insights on the ASPIRE model, see articles from Modern Healthcare and Forbes.