Tech‑Powered Accountability: 3 Policy Shifts & Tech Trends ACO Leaders Can't Ignore in 2025
A quick primer on the CMS rules and technology moves reshaping accountable care—and how HealthLink Secure can help organizations stay ahead.
By Christian Rodgers, Founder, Informed + Choice
1 | The ACO movement just crossed the halfway mark
In January, CMS announced that 53.4% of Traditional Medicare beneficiaries—about 14.8 million people—are now in an accountable‑care relationship, the largest single‑year jump since tracking began. The Shared Savings Program grew to 476 ACOs, and 103 organizations remain in the value‑based ACO REACH model, with a brand‑new Primary Care Flex option on the horizon.
Why it matters: CMS is still targeting 100% accountable care by 2030. Every clinic or physician group that touches Medicare lives will feel pressure to join—or partner with—an ACO that can manage quality and cost.
2 | Interoperability is no longer optional
The Interoperability & Prior Authorization Final Rule (CMS‑0057‑F) sets a hard compliance date of January 1, 2027 for payers—and, by extension, their provider partners—to expose claims and prior‑auth data through standard FHIR APIs.
Why it matters: ACOs that master real‑time data exchange will close care gaps faster, reduce denial cycles, and hit shared‑savings targets. Those that lag will spend 2026 scrambling to retrofit legacy interfaces.
3 | AI is moving from pilot to playbook
A recent AHA report urges health‑system executives to treat AI planning as a board‑level priority, citing ambient documentation, risk‑scoring, and revenue‑cycle automation as quick‑win use cases. Even outside provider circles, tech voices are amplifying the message: Bill Gates predicted AI will help offset the projected 86,000‑physician shortfall by automating repetitive tasks and accelerating diagnoses.
Why it matters: Pairing AI with the new streams of structured data mandated by CMS creates a flywheel—better data feeds better models, driving quality scores and shared savings upward.
What forward‑thinking ACOs & medical offices should do next
| Priority | Quick Win | Strategic Payoff |
|---|---|---|
| Stand up a FHIR‑ready data layer | Map your claims + EHR data to FHIR profiles now | Positions you as a preferred partner for payers racing toward 2027 |
| Pilot ambient or generative‑AI tools | Start with note‑taking or eligibility chatbots | Cuts clinician burnout and surfaces insights that boost quality scores |
| Invest in cost‑of‑care analytics | Use Part A/B/D claims to flag avoidable ED visits or Rx non‑adherence | Generates measurable savings that feed directly into Shared Savings benchmarks |
| Tighten PHI governance | Log every data touch & automate HIPAA audit trails | Builds trust with payers, providers, and patients—essential for value‑based care |
Ready to turn new rules into new revenue?
HealthLink Secure by Informed + Choice delivers FHIR‑native, claims‑rich dashboards that plug seamlessly into your workflows—without storing PHI long‑term. Let’s discuss how we can help your organization hit quality targets and grow shared savings in 2025 and beyond.