Maryland Begins Planning for CMS AHEAD Model Implementation
Leaders from the state of Maryland and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently held a ceremony for the state to sign its agreement to participate in the federal States Advancing All-Payer Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model.
Maryland is the first state to sign such an agreement, which will promote healthcare transformation both by improving population health and lowering costs across all payers—including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. CMS selected five other states — Vermont, Connecticut, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and regions of New York — for participation in the AHEAD model.
With the signing of the agreement, the Maryland Department of Health will begin planning for model implementation with stakeholders. Planning will include establishing targets for cost growth, quality and equity improvements, population health, and primary care investments as well as identifying regional partnerships to drive AHEAD goals.
The AHEAD Model supports the delivery of high-quality care through greater care coordination and focus on health equity and health-related social needs to support underserved patients.
The model builds upon the Total Cost of Care Model, which sets a per-capita limit on Medicare’s total cost of care in Maryland and encompasses Maryland's unique all-payer hospital payment system, which reduces per-capita hospital expenditures and supports improved health outcomes as encouraged by the Affordable Care Act.
Implementation of the AHEAD Model will begin January 1, 2026.
“Maryland’s participation in the AHEAD Model is a critical step forward in improving the overall health of its residents, supporting primary care, transforming healthcare in communities throughout the state, and addressing disparities in the healthcare system,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, in a statement. “CMS applauds Maryland’s leadership in slowing health care costs while driving innovation and improving healthcare delivery for Marylanders.”
“Under AHEAD, Maryland has more tools and resources than ever to create a healthcare delivery system that Marylanders deserve,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, in a statement. “With a focus on improving access to primary care and addressing population health needs of Marylanders, under AHEAD we will expand upon the work initiated by the Total Cost of Care Model.”
