Washington, D.C. (February 3, 2026)
Medicare beneficiaries receive significantly more primary and preventive care when their doctors are part of accountable care models, according to new data released today by Accountable for Health (A4H), an advocacy organization of more than 60 providers, payers, and innovators founded to champion accountable care.
The analysis, based on Medicare claims data from 2019 to 2024, focuses on use of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), a key entry point for preventive care, chronic disease management, and referrals for needed services.
By 2024, 65 percent of Medicare beneficiaries in ACOs that take on financial risk for cost and quality received an Annual Wellness Visit, compared to 57 percent in ACOs that don’t take on financial risk for cost and quality and 42 percent among beneficiaries not aligned with an ACO. Utilization was even lower in 2019, underscoring the sustained gains associated with greater accountability for cost and quality.
Among Medicare beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicaid, who tend to have more complex medical and social needs, the differences were similarly striking. In 2024, 49 percent of dually eligible beneficiaries in two-sided risk ACOs received an AWV, compared to 37 percent in one-sided ACOs and just 26 percent among non-ACO beneficiaries.
“When providers are accountable for outcomes and not volume, patients get more proactive, coordinated care,” said A4H CEO Mara McDermott. “Two-sided risk ACOs are doing more than any other traditional Medicare model to ensure beneficiaries receive preventive services that keep them healthier and out of the hospital.”
The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit allows clinicians to review a beneficiary’s health status, manage chronic conditions, identify risk factors, and develop a personalized prevention plan. Higher AWV rates are associated with better disease management, earlier intervention, and improved patient engagement.
The new data also carry important implications for Medicare policy. As federal policymakers expand and refine accountable care models, including the next generation of payment and delivery models, evidence increasingly shows that greater accountability leads to better access to primary and preventive care, particularly for high-need populations.
“For patients, this means earlier care, better chronic disease management, and fewer avoidable hospital visits,” McDermott said. “For Medicare, it shows that aligning payment with accountability delivers better care and better value, especially for people with the greatest needs.”
The analysis, which is available online here, was conducted by Health Management Associates and is based on Medicare claims data accessed through the Virtual Research Data Center.
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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Accountable for Health supports the introduction of the bipartisan Patients First Act and looks forward to working with the bill's sponsors to strengthen these proposals and ensure they maximize physician participation in accountable care and improve quality while lowering costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
Accountable for Health is encouraged that CMS’s 2027 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule recognizes the central role primary care must play in building a stronger, more sustainable Medicare program.
Accountable for Health welcomed 2024 ACO REACH results, which showed nearly $1 billion in net Medicare savings while maintaining strong quality, further demonstrating the value of accountable care. We also urged policymakers to modernize how accountable care models are evaluated so assessments better reflect today's landscape and the latest evidence.
