What's Happening?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the selection of 150 digital health companies and healthcare providers to participate in the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective Scalable
Solutions (ACCESS) Model. This initiative, launched by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), is a 10-year payment program designed to promote the use of technology in treating chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and depression. The ACCESS Model aims to provide stable payments for technology that achieves clinically significant outcomes. The program will run from July 5, 2026, to June 30, 2036, and includes a range of tech-enabled healthcare companies like AI doctor startup Doctronic and virtual mental health company Headspace.
Why It's Important?
The ACCESS Model represents a significant shift towards value-based care in the U.S. healthcare system, emphasizing the integration of technology to improve patient outcomes for chronic conditions. By aligning payments with clinical outcomes, the model encourages healthcare providers to adopt innovative technologies that can lead to better management of chronic diseases. This approach could potentially reduce healthcare costs and improve the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries. The involvement of major commercial payers, covering 165 million members, underscores the model's potential impact on the broader healthcare landscape.
What's Next?
As the ACCESS Model is set to begin in July 2026, participating organizations will need to adhere to strict guidelines, including compliance with Medicare Part B enrollment, data privacy, and outcome reporting standards. The initial application deadline has been extended to May 15, 2026, allowing more organizations to join. The model's success will depend on its ability to demonstrate cost-effectiveness and improved patient outcomes, which could influence future healthcare policies and payment models.
