The ACO Show

Hosted by Aledade Inc

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Episodes

201

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

The ACO Show explores the latest developments in the U.S. health care system, with a focus on value-based care and accountable care organizations (ACOs). Join co-hosts Josh Israel, MD, senior medical director of Quality, and Sean Cavanaugh, chief of Policy at Aledade, in conversations with experts, policymakers and clinicians to understand how value-based care is good for patients, practices and society. The ACO Show is produced by Aledade.

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60 recent

June 1, 2026Episode 20323 min

Driving Healthcare Innovation with Halle Tecco | Episode 203

Halle Tecco, author of the book “Massively Better Healthcare: The Innovator's Guide to Tackling Healthcare's Biggest Challenges,” joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh on the podcast to discuss ways to improve the healthcare system through innovation. Tecco shares that a very important focus is on alignment, not only between margin and mission, but in figuring out how to engage patients with new technologies. Tecco also explores how patients, physicians and other key stakeholders can all be involved in innovation and change in the healthcare system.

May 11, 2026Episode 20226 min

202. The Future of AI in Primary Care: Jacob Shiff on the ACCESS Model

Jacob Shiff, chief AI and technology officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center (CMMI), joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to dive deeper into the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model. The model focuses on improving patient outcomes while encouraging clinicians to utilize technology-enabled solutions to deliver personalized, preventive care to those with chronic conditions, like hypertension and diabetes. Shiff shares that the goal is to give primary care physicians more support, while offering patients affordable and convenient care options. With continuous advancements with artificial intelligence (AI) and technology, Shiff hopes the ACCESS model will allow clinicians to use these advances to better engage with patients to improve outcomes. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the ACCESS application deadline to May 15: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/access Learn more about Aledade’s participation in ACCESS: https://aledade.com/newsroom/aledade-news/aledade-joins-cms-access-model

April 7, 2026Episode 20116 min

201. The North Carolina State Health Plan Preferred Provider Strategy with Treasurer Brad Briner

Brad Briner, North Carolina state treasurer, and Alex Mullineaux, Aledade regional market president, join Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the state health plan’s new preferred provider strategy. The goal of this approach is to improve patient health outcomes and reduce costs by connecting patients with clinicians that have a proven record of high-quality, cost-effective care. Treasurer Briner and Alex share how this strategy came about, the benefits for patients and how North Carolina hopes to scale the plan in the future. In phase one, the state health plan approved partnerships with three networks to support this initiative, including Aledade.

March 2, 2026Episode 20019 min

200. Vaccine Schedule Changes: Paul Offit, MD, Shares Everything You Need to Know

Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the recent decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to move several vaccines (including rotavirus, influenza and COVID-19) from a universal recommendation to shared clinical decision-making. While shared clinical decision making has always been an option for physicians and patients, Offit provides practical tips for clinicians navigating these conversations, advising physicians to be empathetic to patient fears, but also to be passionate in explaining the severe risks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

February 17, 2026Episode 19934 min

199. Navigating Leukemia: One Patient’s Experience

Amelia Knopp and her father, Ryan Knopp, MD, from Stone Creek Family Physicians in Manhattan, Kansas, join Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss Amelia’s experience with the health care system following a shocking leukemia diagnosis. They share how this diagnosis set Amelia and their family on a journey that they describe as “health care at its best.” Amelia emphasizes the importance of trust in the physician-patient relationship, and how advocating for patients and providing clear communication helps build a better patient experience. Ryan notes how his daughter’s experience underscores the importance of value-based care in ensuring that physicians are invested in the relationship with their patients and providing high-quality, accountable care.

January 5, 2026Episode 19826 min

198. The CMMI ACCESS Model explained

Catherine Olexa-Meadors, head of growth and partnerships at Town Hall Ventures, joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the recently announced ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) Model from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), also known as the CMS Innovation Center. They explain the new payment system, which includes outcome-aligned payments tied to demonstrating improved patient outcomes, and how advances in technology, specifically in digital patient engagement, could help this model succeed. They also explore challenges, including the delay in the announcement of payment rates and the concern that patients not in an accountable care organization (ACO) may not have someone monitoring the total cost of care. Watch the full episode on YouTube Listen to Episode 193: Breaking down CMMI's new strategy with Abe Sutton, director of CMMI, and Farzad Mostashari, MD

December 1, 2025Episode 19730 min

197. The Future of Primary Care with Shawn Martin

Shawn Martin, executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss challenges with the future of primary care, particularly independent primary care practices. Martin believes that value-based care has helped sustain rural health care practices and that the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) will serve as the foundation for value-based care moving forward. Martin stresses the benefits of partnering with support organizations, like accountable care organizations (ACOs), in succeeding in value-based care and outlines opportunities for the AAFP to partner with ACOs to support physician independence, provide value-based care training and advocate for rural health care funding.

November 3, 2025Episode 19627 min

196. What is the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)? with Margaret E. O’Kane

Margaret E. O’Kane, CEO, president and founder of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), joins Joshua Israel, MD and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss how the organization has helped transform quality measurement in the American health care system. Over the past 35 years, O'Kane and the NCQA have developed quality measurement standards for clinicians while striving to minimize the administrative workload that comes with an expanding array of quality metrics. O’Kane advocates for a future where quality measures are better integrated into health care technology systems, emphasizing that systemic changes are crucial for improving quality, rather than solely focusing on individual physicians. Watch the full video episode

October 6, 2025Episode 19521 min

195. Unlocking Independence for Primary Care Clinicians

Join Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh, along with Brittney Anderson, MD, family physician and podcaster (“Physicians Hanging a Shingle”) and Dan Bowles, general manager of practice health at Aledade, to discuss Anderson’s journey to owning her own private practice, and how she supports other physicians seeking independence. Both Anderson and Bowles believe value-based care is crucial for independent primary care practices, and that greater exposure to independent practice models is essential to provide physicians with more employment options. As Bowles explains, this is the driving force behind Aledade’s effort to support physicians looking for information and a path to their own independent practice. Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom

September 15, 2025Episode 19426 min

194. 2024 MSSP Results with Farzad Mostashari, MD and Sandeep Mann, MD

Join Josh Israel, MD and Sean Cavanaugh in their video debut as they discuss the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) results for 2024 released by CMS with Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, MD They explore how Aledade Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) earned more than $1 billion in total savings and continue to improve performance year over year, including substantially reducing hospitalizations. We also sit down with Sandeep Mann, MD, primary care physician and Aledade partner since 2015, to explore how his practice has thrived in value-based care. Watch the full episode Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom