The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has unveiled a new strategic plan designed to align with the policy priorities outlined in the administration’s executive order to “make America healthy again.” The plan introduces a three-pillar framework guiding the Innovation Center’s future efforts: promote evidence-based prevention, empower individuals to achieve their health goals, and drive choice and competition.
In a blog post, Innovation Center Director Abe Sutton emphasized the importance of building on the center’s 15 years of experience to better steward taxpayer dollars and concentrate on models that “show the greatest promise for generating savings and improving quality.” The post elaborates on how the new pillars will shape upcoming and existing models.
Evidence-Based Prevention
The first pillar commits to strengthening preventive care throughout the Innovation Center’s portfolio. This includes enhancing primary prevention, such as tobacco cessation and health or nutrition counseling; supporting secondary prevention to detect conditions early; and expanding tertiary prevention strategies to manage chronic conditions. Sutton indicated that the center will update current models and design future models to embed preventive interventions.
Empowering Individuals to Achieve Their Health Goals
The second pillar focuses on equipping patients with better tools and information to manage their health. Building on prior Innovation Center initiatives, such as public reporting websites, this strategy emphasizes greater use of technology to improve outcomes. Sutton noted that upcoming models may incorporate mobile applications for disease management, increase provider and service transparency, and potentially offer waivers tied to cost-sharing.
Driving Choice and Competition
The third pillar aims to broaden provider participation in value-based care models and test approaches to increase competition. This could include introducing new Medicare Advantage payment and quality initiatives and encouraging independent provider involvement. Sutton also suggested future models might adopt site-neutral payment approaches and continue operation pending evaluation results, provided early data do not preclude certification and no successor model is ready.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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