The Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model was announced by the CMS Innovation Center in December 2025. LEAD will launch January 1, 2027, at the conclusion of the ACO REACH model, and will run for 10 years.
LEAD builds on earlier accountable care work while appealing to a broader mix of health care providers, including those with specialized patient populations, those new to ACOs, and smaller, independent, or rural-based practices. The model focuses on better-serving high-needs patients, including those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and those who are homebound or have complex care needs.
LEAD represents the continued evolution of CMS's strategy to expand value-based care participation. As of January 2026, approximately 14.3 million Medicare beneficiaries receive care coordinated by ACOs, a 4.4% increase from 2025. Connected care programs (CCM, RPM, APCM) are tools that ACO-participating practices use to manage their attributed populations and meet cost and quality targets.
Sources:
CMS 2026 ACO Initiatives Participation Highlights;
CMS Innovation Center announcements, December 2025.
The Advanta team is ready to discuss the details of Connected Care.
If you have questions, reach out.
