Neil Batlivala's healthcare company Pair Team has quietly built a patient-focused operation serving vulnerable populations, and now finds itself at the center of a major shift in federal healthcare delivery. The company was accepted into ACCESS, a Medicare program launching July 5 that tests AI-driven medical care at scale.

ACCESS represents a fundamental change in how Medicare pays for care. Instead of reimbursing based on clinician time, the program rewards health outcomes like lower blood pressure or reduced pain. This creates the first mechanism to pay for AI agents that monitor patients between visits, coordinate referrals, and ensure medication adherence. Pair Team deployed its voice AI agent Flora nine months ago, which now handles intake and check-ins 24/7.

The company employs roughly 850 clinical professionals and has raised $30 million while generating nine-figure revenue. However, risks remain significant, including potential data breaches given CMS's history of security issues. Financial sustainability depends on lean, AI-first operations since CMS pays less per patient than many anticipated.

Former startup operators designed ACCESS with outcome-based payments and direct-to-consumer enrollment. The program's architects believe competition driven by proper incentives will transform healthcare delivery, though investors remain cautious as digital health funding surges.