OCHIN + C3 Launch a National Medicare ACO Built for OCHIN Epic FQHCs — A Turnkey On-Ramp to Risk
Community Care Cooperative (C3), a nonprofit FQHC-governed accountable care organization, partnered with OCHIN (announced March 17, 2026) to launch a national Medicare ACO purpose-built for OCHIN Epic health centers. C3 expanded to 47 FQHCs effective Jan 1, 2026 across six-plus states, covering 46,000+ attributed Medicare beneficiaries and 240,000+ total value-based lives, and has generated more than $152M in shared savings for member FQHCs since 2018.
Because many California FQHCs already run OCHIN Epic, the partnership sharply lowers the data-and-onboarding barrier to joining a Medicare ACO. Strategic implication for CA FQHC leaders staring down the December 2026 funding cliff: this is a credible path to diversify revenue by joining an FQHC-governed ACO rather than building one alone.
See our Value-Based Care hub for the full transition roadmap.
Key takeaways
- C3 is an FQHC-governed ACO: 47 FQHCs, 46,000+ Medicare beneficiaries, 240,000+ total VBC lives (Jan 1, 2026)
- >$152M in shared savings generated for member FQHCs since 2018
- OCHIN partnership creates a turnkey Medicare ACO for the many CA FQHCs already on OCHIN Epic
- A way to diversify revenue ahead of the Dec 2026 cliff by joining — not building — a risk-bearing ACO
Primary source
OCHIN / Community Care Cooperative (C3)FQHC Talent. (2026, March 17). OCHIN + C3 Launch a National Medicare ACO Built for OCHIN Epic FQHCs — A Turnkey On-Ramp to Risk. Primary source: OCHIN / Community Care Cooperative (C3). Retrieved July 10, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/ochin-c3-national-medicare-aco-ochin-epic-fqhcs-may-2026
More in Funding & Budget
Dec 31
CalAIM Section 1115 Waiver Expires December 2026 — $1.2B/Year at Stake
Jul 2
Enacted CA Budget Funds $5M Central Coast Behavioral-Health Pilot Through CenCal Health — Rare Net-Positive for Santa Barbara + SLO
Jul 2
Medi-Cal Posts FQHC/RHC PPS 2025 Q4 Claim Reprocessing Notice — Positive Adjustments Started June 25, Negative Adjustments Begin July 23
Jun 29
The Budget's Quieter First Cliff: ~2M UIS Medi-Cal Enrollees Move to Fee-for-Service January 1, 2027 — Six Months Before the PPS Change