Digital health firms eye CMS ACCESS Medicare pilot despite modest reimbursement

A new Medicare initiative called CMS ACCESS is being launched to manage chronic diseases among seniors.

The program will contract digital health companies to provide remote monitoring and other services, but the reimbursement rates are low, roughly equivalent to the revenue from a few patient visits with commercial insurers.

Analysts note that while the pilot offers a pathway for digital health firms to enter the Medicare market, the modest payments may limit the financial incentive for many companies.

The experiment could shape how digital health tools are integrated into senior care, and stakeholders will watch the outcomes to assess scalability and sustainability.