In early 2022, the leadership of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new vision for the CMS Innovation Center, the part of CMS devoted to testing innovative health payment and delivery models, drawing on 10 years of experience. This new vision, paired with a more detailed strategy refresh issued by the Innovation Center, offered specific objectives and next steps in five key areas: (1) drive accountable care; (2) advance health equity; (3) support care innovations; (4) improve access by addressing affordability; and (5) partner to achieve system transformation. The refresh highlighted a need to foster integration between primary care and palliative care, and related payment models, as one example.
In response to the strategy refresh, C-TAC prepared a letter and memo outlining specific concepts and promising practices for CMS to consider in order to improve services and outcomes for populations with serious illnesses. The recommendations offered align with the Core Principles for Care Models released in 2021. C-TAC leadership will continue discussions with CMS and stakeholders to further develop these concepts.
