CMS announced plans to launch the ACCESS Model, a new payment model that tests an outcome-aligned payment approach in Original Medicare with an aim to expand access to new technology-supported healthcare options that help improve patient health and prevent and manage chronic disease. For organizations that desire to participate in the ACCESS Model, applications are due on April 1, 2026. CMS plans to launch the ACCESS Model on July 1, 2026, which it plans to run for 10 years.
According to CMS, ACCESS will test whether the use of technology in chronic disease management can be expanded by tying payments to clinical outcomes. CMS states that the model focuses on conditions that affect over two-thirds of individuals with Medicare, including high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and depression. CMS noted that Original Medicare has historically lacked a payment option to support the use of novel technology-supported care, such as wearable devices and digital applications, to help patients manage such chronic diseases and that traditional fee-for-service methodology pays for a defined set of activities that do not typically align with technology-supported care.
CMS aims to close this gap by providing participating organizations with recurring payments for managing patients’ qualifying conditions, with full payment tied to achieving measurable health outcomes. CMS stated that, through the ACCESS Model, it hopes to enable clinicians to provide patients with more innovative technology-supported care options that improve the health of patients.
According to CMS, the ACCESS Model will focus on four clinical tracks addressing the most common chronic conditions:
- Early cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and prediabetes.
- Cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions, such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease.
- Musculoskeletal pain.
- Behavioral health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
Participating organizations must be enrolled in Medicare Part B. According to CMS, applications for the ACCESS Model will be available soon, and organizations can complete an interest form, available here, to receive updates once application materials are released. More information regarding the ACCESS Model can be found on CMS’s website.
