CMS released a new national chronic care framework that marks one of the most meaningful changes in chronic disease support in years. The ACCESS Model outlines how practices will be encouraged to manage chronic illness in 2026 and beyond.
You can read the full CMS release here.
The American Medical Association welcomed the new model and emphasized how it strengthens coordination, supports earlier intervention, and encourages daily connection between patients and care teams.
Read the full statement from the AMA.
Together, CMS and the AMA are signaling a clear direction for where chronic care is heading.
“This model confirms a clear direction for chronic care. Better insight, stronger support, and smarter workflows. Vivo Care is aligned with that direction and ready to help practices move into this next chapter.”
Ryan Clark – CEO Vivo Care
What CMS Announced
The ACCESS Model is designed to improve chronic disease management and reduce strain on care teams. It focuses on three areas:
- Stronger support for people living with chronic illness
- Technology that fits real clinical workflows
- Reduced administrative complexity
These changes reinforce a shift from episodic care toward continuous, proactive support between visits.
Remote patient monitoring now plays a central role. Learn more here.
Why the AMA Welcomed the ACCESS Model
The AMA emphasized several reasons for supporting the CMS framework:
- More day-to-day visibility into patient needs
- Stronger team-based care
- Reduced administrative burden on physicians
- Earlier identification of complications
- Better continuity and engagement for chronic illness
This alignment between CMS and the AMA reflects broad recognition that chronic care must move toward daily support and proactive management.
Why This Matters for Provider Practices
The expectations outlined in the ACCESS Model mirror what practices are already experiencing:
- Chronic illness requires continuous contact
- Teams need earlier visibility into patient issues
- Administrative burden continues to grow
- Patients need clear and consistent communication
CMS encourages practices to:
- Identify risks sooner
- Strengthen patient engagement
- Improve documentation processes
- Reduce fragmentation in clinical tools
How the CMS Framework Aligns With the Vivo Care Strategy
The direction outlined in the ACCESS Model closely aligns with the work already underway at Vivo Care.
Supporting Chronic Illness Across Key Programs
Vivo Care delivers structured chronic care support through:
Team-Based Clinical Support
The CMS model highlights the value of licensed clinical staff. Vivo Care provides nurse-led remote care support across all 50 states to help practices monitor patients daily and intervene earlier when needed.
This framework strengthens what we see in practice. Consistent monitoring and communication help identify problems sooner and prevent avoidable complications.”
Dr. Aamir Iqbal, Medical Director, Vivo Care
Workflow-First Technology
CMS calls for simple, integrated tools that reduce complexity for practices. Vivo Care’s platform is designed to support efficient clinical workflows and minimize administrative effort.
Vivo Care works with best-in-class device partners, such as Tenovi, to deliver a broad range of device types and wireless connectivity options.
Flexible, Personalized Program Design
Every practice has different workflows, staffing models, and patient needs. Vivo Care designs programs that adapt to each organization instead of relying on one standardized approach.
Whether you prefer to manage your programs in-house or work with our U.S.-based nurse team, the choice is yours. Take a look at our Moments That Matter series on the blog to see how our team connects with patients and practices every day.
Human-Centered Engagement
Patients receive daily support, personalized communication, and help staying engaged between visits. See firsthand why this matters.
What Practices Should Do Now
The ACCESS Model gives practices an opportunity to review their chronic care strategy. Recommended steps:
- Evaluate gaps in chronic disease management
- Identify patients who may benefit from daily support
- Assess whether current tools reduce or add to the team’s workload
- Choose partners who combine licensed clinical support with workflow-first technology
- Prepare for the shift toward continuous insight and proactive care
Interested practices can connect with Vivo Care here, or simply use your mobile phone to scan the QR Code below.
The Big Picture
Chronic care is entering a new chapter. CMS and the AMA are aligned on the need for continuous engagement, earlier insight, and tools that reduce operational burden.
Vivo Care was built for this evolution.
Learn more about the mission here.