Following months of heated debate on the future of the direct contracting demonstration, CMS on Thursday (Feb. 24) announced it is redesigning the model as a new ACO REACH initiative that will focus more on health equity and be better overseen by the agency than its predecessor. Senior CMS officials also said the controversy reaffirms the innovation center’s commitment to be transparent about its work and the center will keep lawmakers tuned in. The National Association of ACOs praised CMS’...