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 startups that 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.
The initial deadline to participate in the first ACCESS cohort was April 1, but CMMI Monday announced it will extend the deadline to allow more to join. CMS officials say the large number of applications to participate in ACCESS exceeded their expectations and that the enthusiasm suggests modest payment rates and restrictions did not discourage digital health companies from applying.
It offers predefined payments to participating organizations based on measurable health outcomes rather than per-technology service.
Participants include mental health apps, wearable device makers, a life sciences firm linked to Google, and startups that assist large health systems in managing heart failure patients.
The initial cohort enrollment deadline was April 1, with an extension announced by CMMI to accommodate additional entrants.