CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) welcomed today a newly announced care model from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designed to help Medicaid families better navigate and coordinate their health care.
The initiative seeks to address longstanding fragmentation in care delivery by connecting physicians with a broader network of providers. By fostering stronger collaboration, the model aims to support more effective, long-term management of chronic diseases and other complex health needs. Under the pilot program, Medicaid families will be paired with a dedicated provider responsible for guiding them through the health care system and coordinating services.
The new CMS model—called Accelerating State Pediatric Innovation Readiness Effectiveness, or ASPIRE—will equip states with expanded tools to empower pediatricians and other care providers to better support children and their families.
The program places a particular emphasis on children with chronic conditions. Building on lessons from accountable care organizations, CMS will work with states to develop flexible structures that better serve Medicaid patients at high or increasing risk.
“CMS has embraced the challenge of transforming how families experience the health care system. Families enrolled in Medicaid face abundant obstacles to care – transportation, babysitting, coordination and navigating next steps. Giving families a locus of care and building in flexibility could improve the coordination for many vulnerable populations,” said AMA CEO John Whyte, MD, MPH. “Abe Sutton and his team have demonstrated a deep understanding of these challenges and strong commitment to addressing them. Physicians are eager to join this effort.”
ASPIRE is just one of the new models that CMS has unveiled in the past year.
Listen here to Dr. Whyte’s conversation with CMMI Director Abe Sutton about the ASPIRE program.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
