Washington, D.C. (January 20, 2026)
Accountable for Health applauds congressional leaders for proposing an extension of incentive payments for participation in Advanced Alternative Payment Models in the FY2026 Labor–Health and Human Services spending bill, including a one-time, 3.1% incentive payment recognizing Advanced APM participation in 2026.
By proposing to extend these incentives, Congress is making clear that momentum toward accountable care must be maintained. Clinicians who take on accountability for cost and quality need stable, meaningful incentives to continue investing in care transformation.
Advanced APMs have demonstrated that accountable care can deliver better care at lower cost. Extending these incentives would help ensure that clinicians already participating in these models can continue that work, and that others considering the move toward accountability are not discouraged by weakening incentives.
We are grateful to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for recognizing that sustaining progress requires continued policy support. Accountable for Health looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration to build on this momentum and ensure Medicare payment policy fully supports the shift to accountable care.
Contact:
Mara McDermott, CEO of Accountable for Health
mmcdermott@accountableforhealth.org
About Accountable for Health
Accountable for Health (A4H) is a 501(c)(4) national advocacy and policy analysis organization accelerating the adoption of sustainable, effective accountable care that improves health care quality and outcomes and lower costs. We represent a broad, diverse group of accountable care stakeholders working to improve the way health care is delivered to people across the county, across various payers, programs, and delivery models. A4H provides advocacy, research, and education to improve outcomes and patient experiences while lowering costs.
For more information, visit https://accountableforhealth.org/. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@acct4health). ###
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