CMS names 79 ACOs preparing for the LEAD Model's 2027 start
Issue
On September 21, 2026, CMS listed 79 ACOs in the LEAD Model's optional implementation period, which runs September 15 through December 31. CMS says it is working with well over 100 ACOs for 2027, and ACOs have until mid-December to finalize.
Health centers in an ACO can ask now whether it plans to join LEAD.
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ACO REACH, LEAD, ACCESS and other models
FQHC Talent. (2026, September 21). CMS names 79 ACOs preparing for the LEAD Model's 2027 start. Source: CMS Innovation Center. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/cms-lead-model-implementation-period-79-acos-sept-2026