A Medicare experiment in paying for technology to help people manage chronic conditions has just barely gotten underway, and officials are already moving to expand it.
Announced last year, the ACCESS model will pay approved companies to manage certain chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic musculoskeletal pain, depression, and anxiety. The model introduces outcome-aligned payments, in which providers are paid more if their patients’ conditions improve.
Regulators on Tuesday announced that they would expand the number of chronic conditions that will be eligible for the ACCESS model to include substance use disorder, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tobacco use, and longer-term support for musculoskeletal conditions. The new condition tracks will start in spring 2027. About 3 in 4 people on Medicare will be eligible for one track.
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Individual plans
Group plans
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