CMS Model Navigator
Six models. Overlapping deadlines. One tool to sort them.
Filter by your role and state to see which CMS Innovation Center models apply to your practice, when deadlines hit, and what you need to do.
Key Dates
| Model | Type | Status | Application deadline | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AHEAD | State Total Cost of Care | Active | State-level participation. CMS reopening to new states. | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2035 |
ACCESS | Chronic Care Outcomes | Apps Open | Apr 1, 2026 in 40d | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2036 |
LEAD | ACO (REACH Successor) | Apps Opening | Mar 1, 2026 in 9d | Jan 1, 2027 | Dec 31, 2036 |
TEAMMandatory | Surgical Episode Bundles | Active | Mandatory. No application. Hospitals in selected geographic areas are automatically included. | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2030 |
ASMMandatory | Specialty Episode Bundles | Upcoming | Mandatory. Specialists selected based on episode volume (minimum 20 Part B Medicare patients/year with qualifying episodes). | Jan 1, 2027 | Dec 31, 2031 |
MSSP | ACO Shared Savings | Active | May 1, 2026 in 2mo | Ongoing program. Next application cycle opens May 2026. | — |
AHEAD
State-based model controlling total cost of care across all payers. Hospital global budgets and capitated primary care payments. Requires state-level participation.
Action required
If your state is participating, understand how Primary Care AHEAD capitation affects your practice revenue model. If your state is not participating, monitor reopening announcements.
Expand for full detailsACCESS
10-year voluntary model paying outcome-aligned payments for tech-enabled chronic care management across four clinical tracks.
Action required
Application deadline is April 1, 2026. Evaluate clinical track fit, FFS exclusion impact on your billing, and whether you have the tech infrastructure for outcome reporting.
Expand for full detailsLEAD
10-year voluntary ACO model succeeding ACO REACH. Total cost of care accountability with professional and global risk tracks and prospective capitated payments.
Action required
If you are in ACO REACH, evaluate LEAD as your transition path. Applications open March 2026. If you are in MSSP, compare LEAD risk tracks against your current agreement.
Expand for full detailsTEAM
Mandatory bundled payment model holding hospitals accountable for 30-day surgical episodes including post-acute care. Covers ~25% of U.S. markets.
Action required
If you are a hospital in a selected TEAM region, you are already in this model. Focus on post-acute care coordination, surgical episode cost management, and quality reporting.
Expand for full detailsASM
Mandatory physician-focused model adjusting FFS payments for specialists treating heart failure and low back pain based on performance. Risk levels increase over time.
Action required
If you employ or are a specialist in cardiology, pain management, orthopedics, neurosurgery, or PM&R, assess your episode volume and prepare for mandatory participation in 2027.
Expand for full detailsMSSP
CMS flagship ACO program. 511 ACOs, 14.3 million beneficiaries. New pressure to move into two-sided risk within five years for inexperienced ACOs.
Action required
If you are in a one-sided risk ACO, you now have a maximum of 5 years before mandatory two-sided risk. Plan your risk progression. If considering new ACO formation, application cycle opens May 2026.
Expand for full detailsWhat To Do This Month
Upcoming actions based on your filtered models.
March 2026
- →LEADMar 1, 2026
If you are in ACO REACH, evaluate LEAD as your transition path. Applications open March 2026. If you are in MSSP, compare LEAD risk tracks against your current agreement.
April 2026
- →ACCESSApr 1, 2026
Application deadline is April 1, 2026. Evaluate clinical track fit, FFS exclusion impact on your billing, and whether you have the tech infrastructure for outcome reporting.
May 2026
- →MSSPMay 1, 2026
If you are in a one-sided risk ACO, you now have a maximum of 5 years before mandatory two-sided risk. Plan your risk progression. If considering new ACO formation, application cycle opens May 2026.
Ongoing
- →TEAMMandatory
If you are a hospital in a selected TEAM region, you are already in this model. Focus on post-acute care coordination, surgical episode cost management, and quality reporting.
Data last verified: 2026-02-20. Verify all details with official CMS documentation.
Navigating these models for your practice?
Pear Health helps practices operationalize value-based care programs — from MSSP workflows to APCM billing to episode bundle preparation. If you want to talk through what applies to your situation, book a call.
Book a Demo with Ankit GordhandasData sourced from CMS.gov. Last verified February 20, 2026. CMS Innovation Center models page
This tool is informational. Verify all details with official CMS documentation before making participation decisions.