CMS Releases Preliminary Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) Participant List
6,637 clinicians identified for mandatory ASM participation in 2027. What the preliminary list means, key statistics, and what to do next.
CMS has published the preliminary participant list for the Ambulatory Specialty Model, identifying 6,637 clinicians across two condition cohorts for mandatory participation beginning January 2027.
Check your status now: Use the ASM Participant Lookup Tool to search by name, NPI, or organization.
What the List Shows
The CY2027 Preliminary ASM Participant List identifies individual clinicians—by name, NPI, state, condition cohort, and organization—who CMS has preliminarily determined meet the participation criteria for ASM. This is the first time CMS has named specific individuals rather than just geographic areas.
Key Statistics
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Total preliminary participants | 6,637 |
| Heart Failure cohort | 2,610 |
| Low Back Pain cohort | 4,027 |
| Small practice participants | 2,361 (36%) |
| Unique organizations | ~2,600 |
| States represented | 49 |
Top States by Participant Count
| State | Participants |
|---|---|
| Texas | 1,121 |
| California | 644 |
| Florida | 643 |
| Georgia | 349 |
| New Jersey | 298 |
What "Preliminary" Means
This is not the final list. CMS uses available claims data to generate preliminary determinations, but several factors can change between now and the final participant notification expected mid-2026:
- Episode volume can change. If your attributed episodes drop below 20 in the measurement period, you may be removed.
- New clinicians can be added. Clinicians who meet thresholds in updated claims data may appear on the final list.
- Specialty determinations may shift. Your specialty classification is based on the code used most frequently on your Part B claims—changes in billing patterns can affect eligibility.
Bottom line: If you're on the preliminary list, plan as if you're in. If you're not on the list but practice in a mandatory geographic area, you should still prepare—you may appear on the final list.
How This Relates to the Geographic Area List
In December 2025, CMS published the 235 mandatory geographic areas for ASM. That list told you whether your region was selected. This new participant list tells you whether you specifically have been identified based on claims data—your specialty, episode volume, and attribution patterns.
Being in a mandatory area was necessary but not sufficient. You also needed to meet specialty and volume thresholds. The participant list resolves that question for 6,637 clinicians.
What to Do Now
If you're on the list:
- Review your current MIPS episode cost data—the same methodology determines your ASM score
- Understand your quality measure performance (especially Q005, Q008, Q236, Q492, Q377 for heart failure)
- Begin building collaborative care arrangements with primary care partners
- Check whether you're flagged as a small practice (eligible for score adjustments of +10-15%)
If you're NOT on the list:
- Check your geographic area—if you're in a mandatory area, you may still appear on the final list
- Review your episode volume—if you're close to the 20-episode threshold, updated claims data could push you over
- Even if not mandatory, the preparation work (cost visibility, quality optimization) benefits your MIPS performance
Next Steps
SOURCES