More than 150 companies and providers have been provisionally approved to participate in an experimental Medicare program meant to expand access to technology-supported chronic care. They include  popular mental health apps, wearable device makers, a life sciences company tied to Google, and startupsthat help large health systems manage heart failure patients.
Announced late last year by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, the ACCESS model will pay participants set rates to treat chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, and depression. The payments are tied to measurable health outcomes; the model is meant as an alternative to paying for individual technology services.
CMS officials say that the large number of applications to participate in ACCESS exceeded their expectations and that the enthusiasm suggests modest payment rates and restrictions to the program did not discourage digital health companies from applying.  Continue to STAT+ to read the full story...
The initial participation window for the first ACCESS cohort, set to close on April 1, has been extended to accommodate additional entrants.