ACO Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO REACH CAHPS)

The ACO Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) Model (formerly the Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model) is part of a strategy by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) to drive broader health care delivery system reform through the redesign of primary care. The ACO REACH Model builds on lessons learned from other Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiatives, such as the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program) and the Next Generation ACO Model, the Direct Contracting Model, and innovative risk-sharing approaches from Medicare Advantage and the private sector. ACO REACH Model participants are referred to as REACH ACOs, or ACOs. More information on this Model can be found at https://innovation.cms.gov/innovation-models/aco-reach.

Patient experience is an important part of primary care, and REACH ACOs will be required to use the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS®) Survey annually, beginning in Performance Year 2022. The ACO REACH CAHPS is based on the Clinician and Group (CG)-CAHPS Survey and includes additional content relevant to patient/caregiver experience with care delivered by a REACH ACO.

Positive patient experience indicates whether providers have provided high-quality care. Positive patient experience is associated with:

• higher levels of patient adherence,
• improved clinical outcomes, and
• lower utilization of inpatient and emergency department services.

The ACO REACH CAHPS follows a mixed mode survey protocol similar to other CMS CAHPS surveys, such as CAHPS for MIPS, Accountable Care Organizations (ACO-CAHPS) and Primary Care First Patient Experience of Care (PCF-PECS).

For information on REACH ACO's responsibilities and guidance with respect to ACO REACH CAHPS, please read FAQs for REACH ACOs or REACH ACO Guidance which are linked in the "For DCEs/ACOs" section of the Quick Links box on the home page.