What's Happening?
Oura, a smart ring manufacturer, and Counsel Health, an AI-native primary care company, are collaborating to participate in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Advancing Chronic Care with Effective Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model. This
10-year federal payment program aims to leverage technology and artificial intelligence to manage chronic diseases among Medicare beneficiaries. Counsel Health will operate under the early cardio-kidney-metabolic (eCKM) track, with Oura serving as its preferred wearable partner. Starting in early 2027, Counsel Health will provide no-cost chronic care management to eligible Medicare beneficiaries suffering from conditions such as hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and prediabetes. The partnership builds on an existing collaboration that integrates clinical care and AI-based triage directly into the Oura app. Oura's smart rings continuously track over 50 health metrics, and Counsel Health will utilize this biometric data to deliver personalized care, with its medical AI and physicians guiding users on next steps. The initiative seeks to shift chronic care management from an episodic model to continuous, always-available care.
Why It's Important?
This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating consumer wearables and AI into mainstream healthcare, particularly for the Medicare population. With over 90% of adults aged 65 and older living with a chronic condition, and more than two-thirds managing multiple chronic diseases, the ACCESS Model's focus on expanding access to technology-enabled chronic care is crucial. The partnership aims to demonstrate how continuous biometric data, combined with physician-led care, can improve outcomes for conditions like hypertension and obesity. This initiative could set a precedent for value-based payment models, where digital health companies are reimbursed based on patient outcomes rather than just services delivered. If successful, it could lead to broader adoption of wearables and AI in chronic disease management, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving the quality of life for millions of Americans. The move also highlights Oura's strategic push into healthcare services, aiming to build an AI-powered clinical health platform and bridge the gap between consumer wellness and clinical research.
What's Next?
Counsel Health will begin offering no-cost chronic care management to eligible Medicare beneficiaries in early 2027. The ACCESS program will allow Oura and Counsel to study their model at scale, gathering data on how continuous biometric data and physician-led care impact Medicare beneficiaries managing chronic conditions. The success of this partnership could influence future policy decisions regarding the integration of digital health technologies into federal healthcare programs. Oura, which recently filed to go public, is expected to continue expanding its partnerships with medtech firms and health plans, further embedding its smart ring technology into the healthcare ecosystem. The company will also likely continue its research and development efforts, including its blood pressure study, to explore new regulated features and clinical applications for its data. The outcomes of the ACCESS model will be closely watched by other digital health companies, including WHOOP and Withings, which are also participating in the program, as it could shape the future of chronic care delivery in the U.S.
Beyond the Headlines
The integration of wearables and AI into chronic care management raises important ethical and privacy considerations. The continuous collection of biometric data, while beneficial for personalized care, necessitates robust data security measures and clear policies on data ownership and usage. There's also the question of digital literacy and access among the elderly population, ensuring that all Medicare beneficiaries can effectively utilize these technologies. Furthermore, the shift towards outcome-based payments could incentivize innovative care models but also places a greater burden on providers to demonstrate measurable improvements in patient health. This initiative could accelerate the convergence of wellness and clinical care, blurring the lines between consumer health tracking and medical intervention. The long-term success of such models will depend not only on technological efficacy but also on building trust, ensuring equitable access, and navigating the complex regulatory landscape of healthcare and data privacy.
