Under APP Plus, a virtual cardiology visit can be clinically perfect yet vanish from your performance score. The problem isn’t the care—it’s the proof. APP Plus doesn’t ask if the visit was virtual; it asks if you can trace it, step-by-step, from the attributed patient through documented actions to a validated submission. When accountability is fragmented across platforms and partners, the evidence fails, and your score falls silently. The real risk isn't virtual care—it's assuming someone else is managing the data trail CMS requires.

ACO benchmarks are no longer a year-end scoring issue—they are a test of structural discipline. By 2026, success will depend on governance that treats benchmarks as strategic signals, data that is stabilized before it's improved, and operations that are precisely aligned with clear priorities. The key is shifting from urgent, short-term fixes to proactive positioning. Build early warning systems, integrate benchmark trends into financial strategy, and anchor every measure in clear accountability. Benchmarks reward organizations that operate with consistency and foresight, not those that scramble after the performance year has already closed.

APP Plus has elevated chronic care management from a clinical program to a core performance driver. Organizations that silo these efforts often see volatile results, while those that strategically align care delivery with reporting logic achieve steadier success. Based on real-world performance challenges, these six practical strategies—from defining patient populations with precision to building audit readiness into workflows—help turn chronic care into a strategic asset. The focus isn’t on adding work, but on creating clarity and consistency so that everyday care activities naturally support your APP Plus quality, cost, and population health outcomes.

Gap closure reports are the strategic intelligence that separates high-performing ACOs from the rest. These reports identify patients who have missed critical preventive care, directly impacting HEDIS scores and shared savings. For ACOs, mastering gap closure is not just about improving quality metrics; it's about designing powerful incentive structures that motivate care coordination teams. Learn how to leverage technology, optimize workflows, and implement reward systems that drive performance, enhance patient outcomes, and achieve sustainable financial success in value-based care.

Ignoring the MIPS Cost category is risky—it makes up 30% of your score, yet many providers overlook it because scoring happens retroactively. With CMS prioritizing value-based care, optimizing Cost is critical.

Why It Matters:

• High-cost outliers (e.g., avoidable readmissions, excessive post-acute care) hurt performance.

• CMS evaluates your spending against peers—without you submitting data.

• Episode analytics reveal cost drivers, letting you intervene early.

3 Steps to Take Control:

1. Review CMS Feedback – Check your QPP portal to identify high-impact cost measures.

2. Analyze Episode Data – Benchmark costs per condition (e.g., diabetes, joint replacements) and flag outliers.

3. Target Interventions – Optimize care pathways, reduce unnecessary utilization, and improve care coordination.

   The Bottom Line:
   Cost performance isn’t passive—proactive analytics and targeted fixes can boost your score before CMS calculates it.