CMS's 2026 Final Rule lowered the RPM threshold from 16 days and 20 minutes to as few as 2 days and 10 minutes, raised CCM reimbursement roughly 10 percent, and made the Ambulatory Specialty Model for heart failure and low back pain mandatory.

CMS is launching the ACCESS model in July 2026, a 10-year initiative that ties chronic care payments directly to measurable patient outcomes rather than time-based billing. At the same time, UnitedHealthcare tried to gut RPM coverage for chronic hypertension, diabetes, and COPD, only to postpone after industry backlash. These opposing moves create a defining moment for health system leaders.

CMS's new ACCESS model, launching July 5, 2026, introduces outcome-aligned payments for technology-enabled chronic care management across conditions like hypertension, diabetes, chronic pain, and depression. This is a 10-year model that ties full reimbursement to measurable patient health outcomes, not just documented activities.