S4E10: CMS ACCESS Program w/ "The Techy Surgeon," Dr. Christian Pean

In the Season 4 finale, Dr. Katie O'Bright sits down with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Christian Pean, better known as "The Techy Surgeon," for a wide ranging conversation about where technology, Medicare policy, and musculoskeletal care are all heading.
Katie and Christian dig into CMS's newly released ACCESS program, why the fee for service model in physical therapy is no longer sustainable, and how 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for value based MSK care. They also get into the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSP), the awareness gap among frontline clinicians, and what a collaborative, team based model could mean for PTs who have never fit the traditional business model, including Katie's own move to cash based care.
In this episode: what CMS's ACCESS program is and why it matters, why fee for service is no longer sustainable for PT, value based payments and the 2026 inflection point, the Medicare Shared Savings Program and clinician awareness gaps, collaborative and team based longitudinal care, and finding opportunity in a changing model.
Connect with Dr. Christian Pean, The Techy Surgeon, on LinkedIn and Substack. Stay awesome, and go check out the ACCESS program.