Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that America’s seniors receive high-quality health care. The Preserving Patient Access to Accountable Care Act renews incentive-based funding models to ensure that Medicare-funded health care providers commit to prioritizing the quality of their services.
This bipartisan legislation incentivizes health care providers through Medicare to prioritize value-based models, or Alternative Payment Models (APMs). This program reimburses providers for the quality of care they provide, rather than the number of services. These quality-driven programs are known to result in improved care for patients.
“Rhode Island’s accountable care organizations have been national leaders at improving patient care and lowering costs, and Medicare has earned back millions from their success,” said Whitehouse. “We need to encourage more health care innovation and support providers delivering patient-centered care. Our bipartisan bill will extend Advanced Alternative Payment Model incentive payments and reward these providers for delivering cost-effective, high-quality care.”
“Wyoming’s seniors deserve access to the highest quality health care available,” said Barrasso. “As a doctor, I’ve seen the difference quality-driven care can make in a patient’s life. Our bipartisan bill implements tried-and-true incentives to ensure that America’s seniors get good quality treatment through Medicare.”
ACOs are groups of hospitals, doctors and health care providers that join together to coordinate care for a certain region. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, ACOs saved the Medicare program approximately $1.8 billion in 2022, the sixth consecutive year of net savings, by delivering high-quality, coordinated patient care. In Rhode Island, ACOs like Lifespan Health Alliance, Integra Community Care Network and Prospect Health Services RI, Inc. have coordinated care to improve patient outcomes, support providers, and save Medicare money. In Rhode Island, ACOs care for roughly 39,000 patients and helped contribute over $11 million in savings for Medicare in 2023.
The Preserving Patient Access to Accountable Care Actwill extend the incentive payments for qualifying participants (QPs) in advanced alternative payment models (APMs) through payment year 2027 based on performance year 2025, at an adjusted amount of 3.53 percent, and extends the QP eligibility thresholds in effect for performance year 2023 through payment years 2027.
“Medicare’s advanced APM incentives have equipped clinicians with the tools to invest in population health management and improve care delivery,” said Emily Brower, CEO of the National Association of ACOs.“These incentives have been pivotal in advancing the shift to accountable care, with more physicians participating than ever before and over half of traditional Medicare beneficiaries now receiving care through an accountable care organization. This legislation is essential to sustaining that momentum.”
The Preserving Patient Access to Accountable Care Act of 2025 would:
- Extend advanced alternative payment model (APM) incentive payments for qualifying participants (QPs) through payment year 2027 (a one-year extension), at an adjusted rate of 3.53%.
- Extend QP eligibility thresholds (which determine participant eligibility to receive incentive payments) in effect for performance year 2024 through performance year 2025.
Cosponsors of this legislation include U.S Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
