Top ACO Opens Enrollment, Touting $114M in Medicare Savings

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – May 20, 2026 – A top-performing accountable care organization is opening its doors to new clinical groups, offering a proven pathway into the complex world of value-based care. Sound Long-Term Care Management (SLTCM), a division of Sound Physicians, announced it is accepting applications from June through August for its Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that specialize in caring for residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities.

The invitation comes on the heels of a landmark year for the organization. In 2024, only its second year of performance, SLTCM generated nearly $114 million in shared savings for Medicare, ranking it number one among all MSSP ACOs focused on long-term care beneficiaries, according to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

This performance highlights a significant opportunity for physician groups to join a model that has demonstrated success in improving both patient outcomes and financial stability, a dual challenge that often stymies providers transitioning away from traditional fee-for-service payment structures.

A Proven Model in a High-Stakes Field

Accountable Care Organizations are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who come together voluntarily to give coordinated, high-quality care to their Medicare patients. The goal is to ensure that patients get the right care at the right time, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors. When an ACO succeeds in both delivering high-quality care and spending healthcare dollars more wisely, it shares in the savings it achieves for the Medicare program.

SLTCM's 2024 results suggest its physician-led model is a blueprint for success in the challenging long-term care environment. Beyond the impressive $114 million savings figure, the organization achieved tangible clinical improvements. According to its internal analysis of Medicare claims data, participating facilities saw a 13.3% reduction in short-term hospitalizations and a 7.6% decrease in emergency department visits among their patient populations.

"Over the last three years, we've demonstrated that our model best positions providers, patients and facilities for success," said Michael Camacho, president of accountable care at Sound Physicians. "Our ACOs come with deep experience across Medicare populations, including complex and high‑risk patients. That expertise shapes how we track financial performance, enhance patient outcomes, and avoid common pitfalls seen in value-based arrangements."

Addressing the Challenges of Value-Based Care

For many independent clinical groups, the shift to value-based care is fraught with obstacles. The model requires significant upfront investment in data analytics, care coordination infrastructure, and new clinical workflows. It also transfers a substantial portion of financial risk from payers to providers, who can face penalties if they fail to meet cost and quality targets. This high-stakes environment can be prohibitive for smaller practices without the necessary resources or experience.

Joining an established, high-performing ACO like SLTCM is designed to mitigate these risks. By becoming part of a larger network, providers gain access to shared resources, established best practices, and a wealth of performance data. This collaborative structure allows them to benefit from value-based incentives while buffering against potential losses.

SLTCM emphasizes the robust clinical support it provides to its partners, a key differentiator in a crowded field. The organization offers comprehensive education, data-driven performance reviews, and assistance in refining care models to meet the specific needs of vulnerable, high-acuity patients.

"A key benefit of working with Sound Long-Term Care Management is our deep bench of clinical leaders," stated Dr. Tom Kim, the organization's chief medical officer. "Our team actively supports ACO participants through education, protocol development, performance review, and care model refinement. Innovative programs such as virtual health offer more care to be delivered in place, helping to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations in this vulnerable population."

Shaping the Future with the LEAD Model

As the healthcare landscape continues its inexorable shift toward accountability, SLTCM is positioning itself at the forefront of policy evolution. The organization has already applied to operate under the new Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) model, a 10-year program recently introduced by CMS that is set to begin in 2027.

The LEAD model represents a significant evolution in value-based care, designed to provide greater long-term stability and predictability for participating organizations. One of its most anticipated features is a 10-year performance period with a fixed spending benchmark, a stark contrast to previous models where successful ACOs were often 'penalized' with lower benchmarks in subsequent years for their own efficiency.

This long-term financial predictability is intended to encourage sustained investment in population health infrastructure and care management programs. By seeking to participate in the LEAD model, SLTCM signals its long-term commitment to the long-term care space and its role in shaping the next generation of payment reform. For clinical groups considering the jump to value-based care, the opportunity to join an organization that is not only excelling in the current environment but also pioneering the next one presents a compelling strategic advantage.