Medicare's new payment model is designed for AI, and most of the tech industry doesn't know it

The US CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is introducing a new payment model called ACCESS to test AI-based healthcare services.

While existing Medicare paid based on the time consumed by medical staff, ACCESS adopts a method that rewards based on patients' health outcomes. For example, it pays out when measurable goals such as blood pressure reduction or pain relief are achieved.

This change in payment structure is highly significant for AI agents. Under the existing system, there was no mechanism to bill for the AI's role in monitoring patients, doing check-ins, or confirming medication intake. However, ACCESS is the first model that enables payment for these AI-based management activities.

Pair Team is a key participant in this program, using its voice AI agent Flora to perform the following tasks:

• 24-hour patient check-ins and consultations
• Coordinating medical referrals
• Monitoring patient status and collecting data

This model is expected to create dedicated swim lanes for AI innovation within a regulated industry, fostering an environment where technologically superior solutions can compete in the market.