Every summer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces settlement results for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), an update that Accountable Care Organization (ACO) leaders, analysts, and policy experts eagerly anticipate. The MSSP results are more than just numbers in a report; they reflect how well ACOs are delivering value-based care (VBC) by improving quality while reducing costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
In 2024, 476 ACOs participated in MSSP, representing a wide range of sizes, geographies, and operational models. Among them were 41 Milliman MedInsight (MedInsight) customer ACOs. On average, these organizations have worked with MedInsight for 5.1 years, a tenure that often translates into refined care coordination, better use of data, and more consistent performance in programs like MSSP.
This year’s results (which are at this point still preliminary) tell an encouraging story for MedInsight customers. While CMS will revise the data later this year, with adjustments expected to lift results across the board, the directional trends are clear: MedInsight customers outperformed national averages in several key areas.
Participation snapshots and performance highlights
Out of 476 ACOs in MSSP this year, 41 were MedInsight customers, just under 9% of the total participant pool. Despite their smaller representation, their performance stood out.
Fast facts:
- Savings achievement rate: 80% of MedInsight customers earned shared savings in 2024 (33 of 41), compared to 75% nationally (359 of 476).
- Savings growth rate: 63% of MedInsight customers increased their savings from 2023 to 2024, compared to 53% nationally among returning ACOs.
- Average savings per beneficiary: $513 for MedInsight customers vs. $397 nationally – a 29% higher average.
These metrics tell a consistent story: MedInsight customers are more likely to earn savings, more likely to improve year over year, and they generate greater savings per beneficiary than the national average.
Total savings and standout performers
MedInsight customers collectively earned $665,737,358 in total savings for 2024. Nationally, MSSP participants earned $4,104,240,119. While MedInsight customers make up a small fraction of total ACOs, their share of the overall savings is disproportionately high, and their per-beneficiary results outpace the national average of $397.
Within the MedInsight customer group, several organizations posted remarkable year-over-year gains:
- ACO #1
2024 savings: $122,660,765
Increase from 2023: +$21,529,154
Per-beneficiary savings: $794 (154,409 beneficiaries)
This ACO not only posted the highest total savings among MedInsight customers but also achieved one of the largest absolute increases from the prior year.
- ACO #2
2024 savings: $49,396,726
Increase from 2023: +$16,522,106
Per-beneficiary savings: $661 (74,756 beneficiaries)
A strong upward trajectory that reflects targeted performance improvements.
- ACO #3
2024 savings: $27,077,295
Increases from 2023: +$14,943,850
Per-beneficiary savings: $552 (49,018 beneficiaries)
Savings more than doubled from the prior year, underscoring the potential impact of data-driven interventions.
These examples illustrate that performance gains are not confined to the largest ACOs. Organizations of varied sizes can achieve significant improvements and deliver above-average per beneficiary savings – when equipped with the right strategies and tools.
Why the gap matters
The fact that MedInsight customers outperformed national averages in multiple measures is worth noting. The MSSP rewards efficiency and quality, but achieving these goals consistently requires actionable insights. Higher savings achievement rates suggest that MedInsight customers are better positioned to meet or exceed financial benchmarks. Larger per-beneficiary savings indicate that these organizations deliver more value per patient served. The higher proportion of year-over-year improvement points to a culture of continuous performance enhancement.
How MedInsight analytics drive performance for ACOs of all sizes
Strong MSSP results for MedInsight customers reflect more than just experience, they also highlight the role of purpose-built analytics in supporting performance across organizations of every size. MedInsight solutions are designed to meet ACOs where they are in their VBC journey, from early-stage entrants to seasoned participants managing multiple complex contracts.
- ACO Builder helps organizations design high-performing networks by identifying providers with strong cost and quality outcomes. It allows ACOs to model provider combinations, forecast financial results, and benchmark against national and regional peers, especially valuable for newer or growing ACOs making strategic network decisions.
- VBC Platform combines VBC Insights and VBC Analytics to give ACOs a complete, trusted view of performance.
- VBC Insights delivers clear, timely reports tracking cost drivers, utilization trends, and quality measures, enabling teams to focus on the highest-impact opportunities.
- VBC Analytics offers deep, customizable analysis for exploring performance drivers, identifying gaps, and conducting root-cause investigations, supporting both smaller ACOs with limited analytic staff and larger organizations with advanced teams.
- VBC Contracts unifies contract oversight, combining performance tracking with forecasting to predict savings or losses. Organizations can monitor progress, anticipate results, and adjust strategies promptly across agreements.
- Innovation Portal provides secure, immediate access to enriched claims data and market intelligence, enhanced by AI tools for deeper exploration and tailored recommendations. Leaders, analysts, and care managers can quickly act on insights, while technical teams perform advanced analysis and modeling without delays.
These tools are scalable and adaptable, making them effective for small ACOs as well as large, multi-contract organizations. Whether the goal is to design a network, manage ongoing performance, oversee complex contracts, or uncover new opportunities for improvement, MedInsight analytics give ACOs clarity, confidence, and a pathway to stronger results.
In the competitive and complex environment of MSSP, consistent performance improvement is challenging. Yet in 2024’s preliminary results, MedInsight customers demonstrated stronger outcomes than the national average across multiple measures.
While the data are subject to revision, these trends suggest that integrating MSSP experience with advanced analytics can support improved performance. For ACOs of any size, operational maturity combined with data-driven decision-making may enhance savings potential and promote better patient care.
MSSP: Ready to advance your VBC strategy?
Whether you’re new to MSSP or looking to strengthen your results, MedInsight can help. Request a personalized demo or schedule a free readiness assessment to learn how our solutions drive savings, improve quality, and position ACOs for sustained success.
