How Stellar is bridging the gap between digital health solutions and healthcare providers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the ACCESS model, a landmark 10-year initiative launched by the CMS Innovation Center to modernize how Medicare treats chronic disease.

At Stellar Health, we see this as a watershed moment for value-based care. For the first time, this model creates a clear, sustainable pathway to bring high-quality digital health services to patients covered by original Medicare.

While the regulation is complex, our vision for it is simple: We want to empower healthcare providers to be the bridge between their patients and the best digital health innovations in the market.

Why ACCESS, Why Now?

The ACCESS Model is the culmination of a decade-long evolution in how CMS approaches chronic disease management. Since the inception of the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and the shift toward Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), CMS has been chasing the “Triple Aim” of better care, better health, and lower costs. However, earlier iterations, from Chronic Care Management (CCM) to ACO REACH, often struggled with the “last mile” of engagement. While MSSP focused on broad population health and CCM introduced payments for non-face-to-face time, these programs were often hampered by a fee-for-service mindset that required providers to count minutes or administrative tasks rather than focusing solely on patient outcomes. The ACCESS Model, launched by the CMS Innovation Center in late 2025, represents a definitive pivot. By moving away from the rigid billing structures of CCM and the high-level shared savings of MSSP, ACCESS introduces Outcome-Aligned Payments (OAPs). This gives providers the financial flexibility to integrate sophisticated digital health tools directly into their workflow, finally paying for the result of care, like stabilized A1c or reduced MSK pain, rather than just the process of it.

The Missing Link in Digital Health

We live in an era of incredible medical innovation. There are sophisticated digital solutions for everything from Musculoskeletal (MSK) care and Kidney Disease management to Behavioral Health support. Yet, despite their clinical quality, many of these programs struggle to reach the patients who need them most.

Why? Because healthcare is personal. Patients are rarely responsive to cold calls or mailers from unknown vendors. And let’s face it – healthcare is incredibly complex and overwhelming to the average person. 

At Stellar, we believe the solution lies at the point of care. The most powerful force in healthcare is the trusted relationship between a patient and their Primary Care Provider. A recommendation from a trusted doctor is infinitely more powerful than a marketing brochure or an email from an unknown third party.

The Opportunity for Digital Health 

For digital health innovators, the CMS ACCESS Model is the definitive green light to scale. However, the greatest barrier to entry isn’t the technology—it’s the distribution.

At Stellar, we are excited to announce an open invitation to select digital health partners. We are seeking best-in-class solutions to integrate into our ecosystem and serve providers and patients at an unprecedented scale.

Stellar is uniquely positioned to solve your “last mile” hurdle through three core strategic pillars:

  • Massive Network Access: Partnering with Stellar provides an opportunity to expand beyond ACCESS to a robust network of over 20,000 healthcare providers who collectively manage more than 1.2 million lives. We don’t just provide a list; we provide a destination.
  • The Critical Intersection: We sit at the pivotal precipice where data, provider workflow, and behavioral incentives meet. No other platform on the market masters this “triple threat” to drive measurable clinical outcomes.
  • The Power of Provider Trust: By integrating with Stellar, your solution moves out of the “spam folder” and onto the provider’s screen as a trusted clinical recommendation.  We turn your tech into a proactive tool that providers advocate for when appropriate at the point of care.

We are looking to partner with best-in-class solutions that are ready to improve patient lives. If you have a clinically proven digital health solution, we offer the infrastructure to connect you with a highly engaged, dense network of providers who are ready to help your solution reach the right patients.

For Healthcare Providers

For healthcare providers in Stellar’s nationwide network, the ACCESS model represents an opportunity to extend their care team without extending their administrative overhead. Our partnership program selects digital health solutions that have been vetted for quality and impact – and therefore can be game-changing clinical extensions of your practice. Through the Stellar Platform, providers will have the ability to:

  • Offer Cutting-Edge Care: Instantly refer patients to top-tier digital specialists (e.g., physical therapy, nutrition, remote monitoring) at no cost to the patient.
  • Improve Outcomes: Connect patients with the daily support they need to manage chronic conditions, reducing readmissions and improving quality scores.
  • Get Rewarded: Just as we incentivize value-based actions like closing care gaps, Stellar will reward providers for taking the time to discuss these life-changing programs with patients.

The Road Ahead

The CMS ACCESS model is more than a new rule or reimbursement mechanism. It is a chance to make equity in health access a reality.

By combining the high-tech capabilities of digital health vendors with the high-touch trust of primary care providers, we can ensure that Medicare patients get the modern, comprehensive care they deserve. We are excited to play our part in making that connection happen.

Learn more about joining our partnership ecosystem here.

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Dan Malinovsky is Senior Director of Product Management at Stellar Health