CMS’ upcoming ACCESS payment model is being billed as a turning point in how chronic care is reimbursed and managed — aiming to tie payments to patient outcomes and expand the use of digital tools. While health system CIOs see promise in the model’s goals, they caution that operational realities could limit its impact without stronger infrastructure and transitional support.
Set to begin accepting applications Jan. 12, 2026, the ACCESS Model — short for Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions — will launch July 1, 2026. The initiative targets people with Original Medicare and is designed to incentivize outcomes over volume, with an emphasis on digital monitoring, coaching and remote care.
Chris Akeroyd, CIO of Lee Health (Fort Myers, Fla.), said the model marks a meaningful shift in CMS’ approach to reimbursement. He views it as a pathway to scale tech-enabled care while holding systems accountable for measurable results.
“CMS’ ACCESS model could be a game-changer as it shifts from an activity-based payment model to outcome-driven care,” Mr. Akeroyd told Becker’s. “It offers a sustainable path to scale remote monitoring, wearables and digital coaching.”
But achieving those outcomes will require more than new tools. Mr. Akeroyd said success will hinge on precision data, targeted population management and stronger patient engagement strategies — areas that require investment and coordination.
Other CIOs echoed that sentiment, viewing ACCESS as part of a larger trend toward outcomes-based reimbursement. Brian Sterud, vice president of IT, CIO and CISO at Faith Regional Health Services (Norfolk, Neb.), said it’s a step in the right direction, especially compared to legacy models that rewarded volume over value.
“It makes sense to actually tie it to outcomes versus just being compensated for providing a service,” Mr. Sterud told Becker’s.
For rural systems, however, the shift presents unique challenges. Darrell Bodnar, CIO of North Country Health (Whitefield, N.H.), supports the ACCESS model in principle — but said previous CMS initiatives show that good intentions aren’t enough to guarantee success.
“Conceptually, the ACCESS model aligns with where healthcare needs to go, particularly for chronic care in rural systems where access, workforce constraints and geography are ongoing challenges. The focus on outcomes-based payments and technology-supported care fits with investments many organizations, including ours, are already considering or piloting,” Mr. Bodnar told Becker’s. “That said, I approach ACCESS with cautious optimism.”
He pointed to past efforts like the Medicare Shared Savings Program and accountable care organizations, which often fell short due to a lack of implementation support.
“Experience with models like MSSP and ACOs has shown us that success depends less on the intent of the program and more on whether organizations are given enough operational and financial runway to make meaningful changes,” he said.
Technology adoption is one major hurdle. Mr. Bodnar said the cost of tools, integration, care coordination and data reporting can be steep — particularly for smaller systems already operating on tight margins.
“Outcomes-based models require significant upfront investment in technology, data integration, staffing and workflow redesign,” he said.
Without early-phase funding or flexibility, he warned, the model may see limited uptake.
“For ACCESS to truly work, there needs to be funding that helps organizations stand up the model and subsidize its early phases while care models, workflows and outcomes stabilize,” he said. “Without that transitional funding and flexibility, there’s a risk that participation becomes difficult to sustain or limits adoption to only the largest organizations.”
Still, CIOs say the model reflects an important shift: CMS expects digital care delivery to become standard, not supplemental. That expectation could be a lever to expand access — if health systems can build the right infrastructure.
“The opportunity is the ability to better support patients with chronic conditions through more proactive, coordinated care that isn’t limited to office visits,” Mr. Bodnar said. “Technology has a real role to play in expanding access and improving continuity, especially in rural settings.”
