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CMS Will Add Heart Failure, COPD, Substance Use and Tobacco Tracks to Its Technology-Enabled ACCESS Model in Spring 2027
CMS said on September 15, 2026 that its voluntary ACCESS Model will add Medicare tracks for heart failure, COPD, substance use disorders and tobacco cessation, plus extended bone, joint and mobility support, beginning in spring 2027. The model pays organizations for measurable health gains and lets them deliver care through virtual visits, remote monitoring and connected devices.
Quick answer
On September 15, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it will expand its ACCESS Model to add chronic-condition tracks for heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), substance use disorders and tobacco cessation, plus extended support for bone, joint and mobility conditions, beginning in spring 2027. ACCESS is a voluntary, 10-year Innovation Center model for Original Medicare that pays participating organizations based on measurable improvements in patient health and lets them deliver care through virtual visits, remote monitoring, connected devices and other technology-enabled methods.
Key takeaways
- →CMS announced on September 15, 2026 that its ACCESS Model (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) will add tracks for heart failure, COPD, substance use disorders and tobacco cessation, plus extended bone, joint and mobility support, starting in spring 2027 (the CMS model page lists an April 1, 2027 start date).
- →ACCESS is a voluntary Medicare demonstration that began July 5, 2026 and is planned to run for 10 years. It applies to Original Medicare (fee-for-service) beneficiaries, not Medicare Advantage enrollees.
- →The model pays participating organizations based on measurable improvements in patients' health rather than for individual services, and it lets them use virtual care, remote monitoring, connected devices, wearables and coaching apps.
- →The current tracks cover high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression. CMS says roughly three in four Original Medicare beneficiaries qualify for at least one track.
- →The new tracks are announced but not yet operating, and enrollment runs through participating organizations, so the practical effect on patients depends on which providers join and what services they offer.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said on September 15, 2026 that it will broaden its ACCESS Model, a voluntary Innovation Center demonstration that pays organizations to manage chronic conditions with technology-enabled care rather than paying for individual visits and services. The expansion adds new tracks for heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), substance use disorders and tobacco cessation, along with extended support for bone, joint and mobility conditions, and CMS says these will begin in spring 2027.
What CMS announced
In its September 15, 2026 announcement, CMS said the ACCESS Model will grow beyond its starting set of conditions to cover five additional clinical areas. Heart failure and COPD tracks focus on continuous monitoring and symptom management aimed at maintaining function and quality of life. A substance use disorder track covers care for opioid, alcohol and other substance use disorders, including integrated support for co-occurring depression and anxiety. A tobacco cessation track supports people trying to quit, and an expanded bone, joint and mobility component extends the model's existing musculoskeletal work. CMS described the new tracks as beginning in spring 2027; the agency's ACCESS Model page lists an April 1, 2027 start date.
What the ACCESS Model is
ACCESS stands for Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions. It is a model run by the CMS Innovation Center, the arm of CMS that tests new ways of paying for and delivering care. According to CMS, the model began July 5, 2026 and is planned to run for 10 years. It targets people enrolled in Original Medicare, the traditional fee-for-service program, and does not apply to Medicare Advantage plans.
The tracks operating today address high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression. CMS says roughly three out of four people in Original Medicare qualify for at least one ACCESS track, and its model page listed more than 160 participating organizations in the weeks after launch.
How the technology-enabled care works
The model is built around care that reaches patients between office visits. CMS says participating organizations can deliver services in person, virtually, asynchronously or through other technology-enabled methods, using tools such as telehealth software, remote monitoring, connected devices, wearables that track measures like heart rate and blood sugar, coaching apps and AI-enabled technologies. The stated goal is to close gaps for people whose chronic conditions are managed mostly in the stretches between scheduled appointments.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz framed the expansion in those terms, saying the agency built ACCESS "because too many people with chronic conditions were falling through the cracks between appointments."
How the model pays
ACCESS uses an outcomes-based payment approach. Rather than reimbursing each individual service, CMS ties payments to measurable improvements in patient health. That structure is meant to reward organizations that produce results such as better symptom control or function, and it distinguishes the model from standard fee-for-service billing, where payment follows the volume of services delivered.
Who is eligible and how participation works
Participation is voluntary for both organizations and beneficiaries. CMS says taking part does not negatively alter a beneficiary's Medicare benefits, coverage or choice of provider. Because the model reaches patients through the organizations that opt in, whether a given person can use an ACCESS track depends on which participating organization serves them and which conditions that organization supports.
This is general information about a Medicare model, not medical or coverage advice. Beneficiaries with questions about eligibility or their own care should talk with a licensed clinician and confirm the current details with CMS or 1-800-MEDICARE.
What this means for telehealth
For the telehealth and remote-monitoring sector, the expansion signals continued federal interest in paying for virtual and technology-enabled chronic care through Medicare, and it widens the set of conditions a model like this covers. The addition of substance use disorder and tobacco cessation tracks in particular extends the approach into behavioral health and prevention, areas where remote and asynchronous care are already common. How much new activity this generates will depend on organizations choosing to join and building programs around the new tracks.
Limits and open questions
The new tracks are announced but not yet running, and CMS has described a spring 2027 start rather than a live program today. ACCESS is a demonstration model, not a permanent change to Medicare benefits, and Innovation Center models can be adjusted or ended based on how they perform. Details such as which organizations will offer the new tracks, the specific measures that determine payment and the exact enrollment steps for beneficiaries will become clearer as CMS releases further guidance. Readers should rely on CMS's own materials for the current terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CMS ACCESS Model?+
ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) is a voluntary model from the CMS Innovation Center that pays organizations to manage chronic conditions for Original Medicare beneficiaries using technology-enabled care. CMS says it began July 5, 2026 and is planned to run for 10 years.
What new conditions is CMS adding to ACCESS?+
CMS said on September 15, 2026 that it will add tracks for heart failure, COPD, substance use disorders and tobacco cessation, plus extended support for bone, joint and mobility conditions. The current tracks cover high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression.
When do the new tracks start?+
CMS described the new tracks as beginning in spring 2027, and its ACCESS Model page lists an April 1, 2027 start date. As of the September 2026 announcement they are planned, not yet operating.
Does ACCESS apply to Medicare Advantage?+
No. CMS says ACCESS is for people in Original Medicare, the traditional fee-for-service program. Medicare Advantage enrollees are not eligible for the model.
How does ACCESS pay providers?+
The model uses an outcomes-based approach. CMS ties payments to measurable improvements in patient health rather than reimbursing each individual service, which is meant to reward results over volume.
Does joining ACCESS change a person's Medicare benefits?+
CMS says participation is voluntary and does not negatively alter a beneficiary's Medicare benefits, coverage or choice of provider. Whether a person can use an ACCESS track depends on the participating organization that serves them.
Sources
- 1.CMS Adds Medicare Options to Help People Manage Substance Use Disorder, Heart Failure, and Other Common Chronic Conditions · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- 2.ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) Model · CMS Innovation Center