CMS Introduces Two Medicare Models Elevating Lifestyle Medicine and Value-Based Care

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have introduced two new models—MAHA ELEVATE and ACCESS—that represent significant developments in lifestyle medicine practice and Medicare reimbursement strategies. The MAHA ELEVATE model, announced in December 2025, allocates approximately $100 million to fund up to 30 cooperative agreements over three years. These agreements will support evidence-based, whole-person care approaches, including lifestyle medicine interventions not currently covered by Original Medicare. This initiative aims to collect new data on cost efficiency and quality outcomes to shape future Medicare policies promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and cost reduction. The ELEVATE program will launch its first cohort on September 1, 2026, offering participating organizations around $3 million each over three years to implement and monitor their interventions. This model reflects CMS's commitment to fostering innovative healthcare delivery that emphasizes prevention and the treatment of chronic conditions through lifestyle changes. Shortly before the ELEVATE announcement, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) introduced the ACCESS model. ACCESS is a voluntary, outcome-based payment program spanning ten years that targets chronic disease care for Medicare beneficiaries. Rather than compensating providers per procedure, ACCESS rewards improvements in patient health outcomes, particularly for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, musculoskeletal pain, and depression. This model also supports the integration of technology-enabled care solutions, encouraging real-time data sharing between patients and providers to enhance care coordination and decision-making. Both CMS models signify a strategic shift towards value-based payment systems in Medicare, focusing on the potential of lifestyle medicine to improve chronic disease management and reduce healthcare costs. By incentivizing preventive and whole-person care, these initiatives may influence insurer reimbursement policies and healthcare provider practices nationwide. The models also underscore the growing role of digital health technologies in delivering scalable and effective interventions for chronic illnesses. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has expressed support for these models, highlighting their alignment with the organization's long-standing advocacy for lifestyle-centered healthcare as a foundation for treatment and prevention. The ACLM notes that these CMS initiatives provide crucial flexibility and funding, enabling healthcare providers to implement lifestyle medicine interventions that could transform patient outcomes within the Medicare population.