Medicare's New Chronic Care Payment Model Opens Its Next Provider Enrollment Window October 1

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is accepting new provider enrollments in the ACCESS model through October 1, 2026, as part of a 10-year initiative that launched July 5, 2026, to reshape how chronic care is paid for in Original Medicare.

ACCESS, short for Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions, tests a payment method called Outcome-Aligned Payments that ties provider compensation to patient health results rather than to the volume of services rendered. The model covers four initial clinical tracks: early-stage cardio-kidney-metabolic care, full cardio-kidney-metabolic care, musculoskeletal care, and behavioral health.

CMS reports that the covered conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and depression, affect more than two-thirds of people enrolled in Medicare. Private payers representing 165 million covered members across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and commercial insurance have also committed to aligning with the ACCESS payment approach.

The program operates through Original Medicare only, not Medicare Advantage. Participation is voluntary for both providers and patients. If a provider joins, their Medicare patients with qualifying conditions may gain access to technology-supported care options, typically without additional cost sharing.

CMS has said that additional conditions and tracks may be added in future model years.