ACCESS CKM Program: A Guide for Clinics
The CMS ACCESS Model is a Medicare program that pays participating clinics based on how well their patients’ health improves. The CKM (cardio-kidney-metabolic) track is for patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or heart disease. The details come from CMS and may change, so review the CMS ACCESS government site for full context before you commit. To learn how Healthie supports ACCESS Model participants, see ACCESS Model Support at Healthie.
ACCESS support is in development and is limited to beta participants. If you are a current ACCESS Model Participant (listed here) please reach out to hello@gethealthie.com to get enrolled in our beta program.
In this article:
Access CKM Overview
- Your clinic or organization applies, not your software vendor. Each applicant uses one Medicare Part B billing number (TIN).
- You need a physician as Clinical Director and must follow HIPAA and FDA rules.
- Patients choose to join. They are in either the CKM track or the earlier-stage eCKM track, not both.
- Applications are rolling, but each start date has a cutoff. The cutoff for the January 1, 2027 start was October 1, 2026, so later applicants join a later start date. I think the next enrollment is 4/1, but still confirming.
What to Measure
Record the date and time each measurement was actually taken, not the date it was typed in. The eCKM track skips the two kidney tests.
| Measure | How it must be collected | Date to record |
| Blood pressure | Home upper-arm device that sends readings automatically. No typing in. | Date and time of every reading |
| Weight | Any method; no device rule found | Date weighed |
| BMI | Calculated from height and weight | Date of the weight used |
| Waist size | Measured at a visit | Date measured |
| HbA1c (blood sugar) | Lab test | Date the sample was taken |
| Kidney function (eGFR) | Lab test | Date the sample was taken |
| Kidney protein (uACR) | Lab test | Date the sample was taken |
| LDL cholesterol | Lab test, direct LDL preferred | Date the sample was taken |
Blood Pressure Devices
Blood pressure is the only measure with a device rule. It must come from an FDA-cleared, validated upper-arm device, and every reading needs a timestamp, the device it came from, and the patient it belongs to. CMS does not publish an approved device list, so the table below is a starting point, not an approved list. Wrist cuffs are left out. CMS reportedly does not allow requiring patients to buy or rent a device, so each clinic should plan to supply them.
| Device | How it connects | What we know | Check before buying |
| A&D Medical UA-651BLE | Bluetooth (needs a phone or hub) | On the Validate BP list; fits 22 to 42 cm arms | FDA clearance for this exact model |
| Withings BPM Connect | Phone app | On the Validate BP list; fits 22 to 42 cm arms | FDA clearance; how readings reach your records |
| CareSimple cellular cuff | Cellular, no app or Wi-Fi | Vendor says it is on the Validate BP list | FDA clearance; one outside registry disagrees on some models, so confirm yours |
| HealthArc cellular monitor | Cellular | Vendor says FDA-cleared and validated; three cuff sizes | Model name, so it can be looked up |
| Tenovi cellular monitor | Cellular gateway | Vendor says FDA-cleared; works with an A&D monitor | Model number and validation |
| Smart Meter iBloodPressure (SMBP802) | Cellular (LTE) | Upper-arm monitor, fits 22 to 42 cm arms | FDA clearance and validation, neither found |
How to check any device
- Search the exact model number on validatebp.org. One brand can have many models and only some are listed.
- Search the FDA 510(k) database for clearance. The blood pressure product code is believed to be DXN; confirm that first.
- Ask the vendor what information is sent with each reading, and whether your records system saves the device name.
Key Dates for Each Patient
- First report: within 60 days of enrolling the patient. If it is missed, CMS drops the patient and you lose that payment.
- Updates: every 70 to 110 days after the last report.
- Final report: after day 365.
- Updates to the patient's primary care doctor: at the start, if something serious happens, and at the end. Send them by secure electronic methods and keep proof.
- By July 2027: connect to a health information network that CMS accepts.
Reporting to CMS
Reports go to CMS through a secure computer connection, not a website or file upload. Your clinic holds the login, not your software vendor. Your IT team or software vendor needs to set this up and test it with CMS before you go live.