Access granted: CMS greenlights more than 150 participants for chronic care experiment

April 14, 2026 - 01:20

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially granted over 150 digital health companies entry into a significant new payment experiment. The program, known as ACCESS, aims to transform chronic disease management by integrating technology-driven care solutions with a payment model that rewards positive patient outcomes.

This initiative represents a major step in federal efforts to modernize care delivery for chronic conditions, which are a primary driver of healthcare costs in the United States. By selecting a diverse array of tech-enabled participants, CMS is fostering an environment where innovative tools—from remote patient monitoring platforms to AI-assisted coaching—can be rigorously tested within Medicare and Medicaid frameworks.

A core component of the ACCESS experiment is its shift toward outcome-aligned payments. This approach moves beyond traditional fee-for-service by tying financial compensation for the participating companies to demonstrated improvements in patient health. The goal is to incentivize higher-quality, more effective care that keeps individuals healthier and reduces hospitalizations.

The selected participants will now work within the program's structure to implement their solutions for eligible patients. The data and results gathered from this multi-year experiment will be crucial for shaping future Medicare and Medicaid policy, potentially paving the way for broader adoption of value-based digital health interventions across the national healthcare system.