AMA welcomes CMS model targeting chronic conditions with tech tools

The American Medical Association (AMA) today applauded the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for launching a voluntary initiative to test technology-supported care for the millions of patients with chronic conditions in Original Medicare.

The model aims to overcome Medicare’s barriers to technological advancements that have proved beneficial in helping patients manage their chronic diseases. The voluntary model focuses on common conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain, depression, and other conditions affecting millions of Americans. CMS announced the novel approach, known as ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) Model, this week.

“ACCESS is an important step toward bringing new, effective digital health tools into everyday care for Medicare patients. We applaud CMS and, in particular, Director Abe Sutton’s team at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, for this new approach,” said AMA CEO John Whyte, MD, MPH. “For too long, outdated payment barriers have made it difficult for physicians to use new tools that can improve care for common chronic conditions. This new model has the potential to give clinicians more flexibility, strengthen care teams, and—most importantly—help patients live healthier lives. The AMA looks forward to supporting physicians as they adopt technology-enabled care models in ways that enhance the patient-physician relationship.” 

The ACCESS Model aligns payments with measurable improvements in patients’ chronic conditions based on each person’s starting point and tailored to patients’ needs for care rather than the individual services provided. By enabling the use of telehealth, wearable monitoring devices, digital coaching tools, and other innovative technologies, the model will help modernize chronic disease management and expand access for patients who have traditionally faced barriers to technology-enabled care.

The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care.  The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.