CMS's latest innovation model, the Accountable Health Communities model, will test whether screening for health-related social needs, providing community service referral and navigation, and encouraging partner alignment impacts total cost of care, emergency department visits, inpatient hospital admissions, and quality of care for high-risk Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The five-year program will provide up to $157 million to participating organizations (e.g., community-based organizations, health care practices, hospitals and health systems, and local government entities) for screening, referral, and navigation services; funds for this model cannot be used to pay for any community services received by beneficiaries as a result of their participation in the model.

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