CMS Announces New “AHEAD Model” for State-Level Chronic Care Management

On September 5th, officials from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced a novel Alternative Payment Model (APM), enhancing state governments' flexibility in managing chronic diseases. This APM draws from valuable insights gleaned from existing state-based models like the Maryland Total Cost of Care Model, the Vermont All-Payer ACO Model, and the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model. The CMS disclosed this transformative initiative to assess a state's capacity to enhance healthcare management for its population. Named the "States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development Model" (AHEAD Model), its primary focus lies in improving chronic disease management, behavioral health, and other medical conditions. Participating states will gain enhanced capabilities for promoting health equity, expanding access to primary care, achieving sustainable healthcare expenditure trajectories, and reducing patient healthcare costs. AHEAD represents the next evolutionary step in the CMS Innovation Center's multi-payer total cost of care models.