WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Connected Health Initiative (CHI) strongly supports Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) announcement of the ACCESS Model, a 10-year pilot program designed to “expand access to new technology-supported care options” for Americans who rely on Original Medicare.
“ACCESS represents a major milestone in the necessary integration of wearable devices, remote monitoring, and digital health platforms into the management of chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, chronic pain, and depression,” said Brian Scarpelli, executive director, Connected Health Initiative. “While traditional Medicare payment rules have not leveraged the incredible potential these tools offer to improve outcomes and reduce costs, the ACCESS Model empowers clinicians and care organizations to use wearable and other digital-health innovations. We have long emphasized that this shift is needed to improve preventive and maintenance care, reduce avoidable complications, and ultimately lower costs.”
CHI stands ready to collaborate with CMS, providers, payers, and technology innovators as ACCESS launches and tracks model participants’ use of technology and interventions. We urge CMS to build on this foundation with clear, efficient pathways for the integration of wearable-based and other remote monitoring solutions.
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