What is the CMS Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)?

If you are a specialist managing patients with heart failure or low back pain, the time to understand your obligations is now.

The ASM is a long-term commitment to value-based care, requiring participants to navigate escalating financial stakes.

Duration:

Five years, beginning January 1, 2027, and concluding December 31, 2031.

Escalating Risk:

Participants will face a dual-sided risk profile starting at 9% and increasing to 12% over the life of the model.

The Bottom Line:

The ASM represents a move toward granular accountability. Specialists are no longer on the sidelines of value-based care—they are now a vital part of it.

The ASM is designed to improve the co-management of Traditional Medicare beneficiaries while driving down costs within defined clinical episodes. Unlike many prior payment models, this is an individual provider-level model. It places the responsibility for cost and quality directly on the MDs and DOs who manage high-cost chronic conditions.

Questions about eligibility and practice impacts from this new MANDATORY payment model? Contact YOUR Experts at the Kentucky REC for all your ASM questions. Call us at 859-323-3090 or email us kyrec@uky.edu.