Quality Metrics

CMS’s Trump administration VBC agenda is moving on two parallel tracks: tightening performance expectations while expanding model-based payment opportunities. Stakeholders including Premier, HCTTF, AHA, and specialty societies are pressing CMS on the CY 2027 Physician Fee Schedule and MSSP proposals to strengthen ACO participation, primary care, interoperability, and quality accountability without adding administrative burden, while CMS is also advancing specialty and chronic-care models such as the Ambulatory Specialty Model and ACCESS chronic disease technology pilot. At the same time, draft 2027 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings cutpoints are becoming harder to reach, signaling that plans and provider partners will face greater pressure to improve measured quality and outcomes as VBC contracts increasingly depend on performance thresholds (Premier comments; MA Stars thresholds).