CMS announces expansion of ACCESS Model 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sept. 15 announced an expansion of its outcome-aligned payment model offering technology-supported care to individuals with Original Medicare. The Advancing Chronic Care with Effective Scalable Solutions Model, or ACCESS, will now offer care options to beneficiaries with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, substance use disorders and nicotine dependence. CMS said the new condition tracks will begin in spring 2027. The voluntary model currently provides options to manage common chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic pain and depression.