CMS Releases Mandatory Participant List for New ASM Payment Model
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services announced the final participant list for the new mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) on September 15, 2026. The CMS Ambulatory Specialty Model represents a pivotal expansion of value-based care into high impact specialty services.
For selected providers, readiness is no longer optional. The time to assess risk, align strategy, and optimize performance is now.
ASM is a MANDATORY CMS Innovation Center model
designed to run for five years from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031 in select core-based statistical areas.
ASM participants selected for this model, who frequently treat patients under Traditional Medicare for low back pain or heart failure in the outpatient setting MUST report to CMS on select clinically relevant quality measures and activities related to care coordination and interoperability.
NEXT STEPS:
ASM participants must complete two separate access requests to gain access to the ASM Participant Portal in the following order:
1) Request Innovation Center Access through logging into the CMS Enterprise Portal here
• You must use your IDM or Login.gov profile email address and must match the email address of your portal invitation
• Sign into the CMS portal to request Innovation Center Access
• Once roles have been selected, submit request and log out of the CMS Enterprise Portal
2) Request ASM Participant Portal Access through RELOGGING into the CMS Enterprise Portal
• Sign in using the same credentials to request access
• Once access has been granted, you can select additional organizational contacts to support your ASM participation
• If you are no longer affiliated with the organization you were selected for as an ASM participant, you may submit an Organizational Change Request at this time
An ASM participant will receive a positive, neutral, or negative adjustment on future Part B payments for covered professional services based on their performance on these measures and activities.
Visit our YouTube Channel for webinars on aspects of the CMS ASM. Click here to view our dedicated ASM Channel.
Questions about the portal, program eligibility, or other ASM needs? Contact us at the Kentucky REC today to learn more about our support options for you and your organization. Call YOUR Experts at the Kentucky REC for all your ASM questions at 859-323-3090.
