CMS Launches ACCESS Model, Expanding Access to Tech-Supported Chronic Care

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently introduced the ACCESS Model (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions), a new initiative aiming to transform how chronic disease care is delivered under traditional Medicare.

The model is scheduled to begin July 1, 2026 and run for 10 years. Its key goal: to test a new “outcome-aligned” payment approach that opens the door for technology-supported care for common chronic conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and depression.

In short: ACCESS could give Medicare beneficiaries more care options outside the usual office visit and allow providers to deliver innovative, tech-enabled care while getting reimbursed differently than under traditional fee-for-service. Here's CMS's short explanation video.

The Problem CMS is Trying to Fix

Under the current Medicare payment system, many technology-driven, remote, or non-traditional care approaches are hard to fund. This creates barriers for patients who could benefit from more flexible, continuous, or digitally supported care.

As chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension become more common (often requiring ongoing monitoring, lifestyle support, and coordinated care) the traditional “doctor visit or nothing” model can fall short. ACCESS aims to shift toward a system that rewards outcomes (like improved health, prevention, better chronic disease management) rather than simply individual services.

What ACCESS Does: Key Features & How It Works

• Voluntary participation by providers. Whether a clinic, health system, or care organization chooses to join is optional.

• Outcome-aligned payment model. Rather than billing per service, the model allows payment based on achieving health outcomes; enabling the use of technology-supported care, remote monitoring, care coordination, and other non-traditional services.

• Focus on chronic disease management and prevention. ACCESS will support care for conditions that affect a large proportion of Medicare recipients, such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic pain, and depression.

• Flexibility for providers and patients. With technology-enabled care options, patients may have access to tools and services beyond the standard in-person visit; expanding access, convenience, and potentially better health outcomes.
  
  

What ACCESS Means for Patients and Providers

For Patients

• More care options: Patients may be able to access remote monitoring, telehealth, digital coaching, or other innovative care models rather than only in-person visits.

• Better management of chronic conditions: Especially for those with hypertension, diabetes, chronic pain, or depression; conditions often requiring long-term, continuous care.

• Focus on health outcomes and prevention, not just reactive treatment.

For Providers / Clinics / Care Organizations

• Ability to offer modern, tech-enabled, and patient-centered services (remote monitoring, digital health, coordinated care teams, etc) without being limited by traditional billing models.

• Payment aligned to value and outcome, rather than volume of services. That can reward efficiency and improved patient health, not just more appointments.

• Opportunity to innovate care delivery, especially for chronic care which matches growing demand as populations age or face multiple chronic conditions.
  
  

What’s Coming & How to Get Involved

• The first performance period under ACCESS begins July 1, 2026.

• Interested providers or organizations should submit their application by April 1, 2026 (or later for a January 1, 2027 start).

• CMS encourages stakeholders to sign up via the ACCESS Model Interest Form to receive updates and application materials.
  
  

If you run a clinic, a wound-care center (or any practice managing chronic conditions), or are involved in regenerative or chronic-care services, ACCESS could open new ways to deliver care with tech-integration and innovative models.

What It Means for Wound Care

Given our focus on wound care, the ACCESS Model — by enabling technology-supported, outcome-driven care — can create opportunities to better manage chronic wound patients, coordinate multi-disciplinary care, have more consistent follow-up for high-risk patients, and integrate advanced wound care products into a broader care management strategy.

• Remote monitoring of wound healing progress or comorbidity management (diabetes, vascular disease) could be supported.

• Value-based payment models may make use of advanced wound care or regenerative products more financially supportable for providers.

• Clinics may have more flexibility to adopt innovative care paths; emphasizing long-term healing, prevention, and patient-centered outcomes.
  
  

ACCESS reflects a shift toward value, innovation, and patient-centered care. Because ACCESS rewards outcomes rather than volume, clinics may have greater flexibility to incorporate advanced wound care products, evidence-based protocols, and preventive strategies into daily practice. Ultimately, this model aligns with the goals of wound care professionals: improving healing rates, reducing complications, and delivering more proactive, patient-centered care.

See also

CMS Finalizes Historic Payment Overhaul for Skin Substitutes: What You Need to Know for 2026
The $10 Billion Question: How CMS's New Skin Substitute Crackdown Will Reshape the Wound Care Industry
When to Use Skin Substitutes or Grafts for Non-Healing Wounds
Stem Cells, Exosomes, and Biologics: Do They Work in Wound Care?

More Information

For more information on the latest effective wound care, contact us to set up a time for a call.

* This blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.