NATIONAL COMPASSIONATE CARE COUNCIL WELCOMES SCIENCE-DRIVEN, FEDERAL MEDICARE CANNABINOID PROGRAM
NCCC commends federal efforts to expand compassionate, physician-guided cannabinoid care through research, access, and responsible oversight
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Compassionate Care Council (NCCC) applauds the CMS Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Incentive (BEI) for cannabinoid therapies announced today, a science-driven initiative to modernize cannabinoid regulation through physician leadership and patient-centered care. The program would create a pathway for eligible seniors to receive immediate access to physician-guided hemp-derived products in clinical settings, a model built through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).
Under the program, participating healthcare organizations may provide federally legal hemp-derived cannabinoid products to eligible patients free of charge. The program is created with a Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Incentive (BEI) available through participating ACO REACH organizations and certain Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) practices in 2026.
NCCC supports policies that expand safe and physician-guided access to cannabinoid therapies for seniors and other vulnerable patients, generate real-world evidence, and help establish clearer federal standards of care grounded in science and patient outcomes. Benefits of the program include:
Expanded compassionate, physician-guided access to cannabinoid care for eligible seniors already using these therapies in real-world care.
A structured access pathway for eligible hemp-derived cannabinoid products, with participating providers able to offer up to $500 in aggregate product value per aligned beneficiary per performance period.
Real-world evidence on safety, efficacy, dosing, and long-term outcomes in a supervised clinical setting.
Established clearer federal standards of care by moving cannabinoid access into a more structured, clinically supervised, data-driven framework.
Supporting the goal of lowering long-term healthcare costs by tracking whether therapeutic access reduces reliance on opioids, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and other higher-risk or higher-cost interventions.
“Patients have been caught in the middle of a system that hasn’t kept pace with the science. For years, many have turned to medical cannabis without the guidance, dosing standards, or research they deserve,” said Dr. Leigh Vinocur, NCCC Chief Medical Advisor. “This program is about correcting that and bringing structure, safety, and evidence into a space that has long operated in the shadows. As physicians, our responsibility is to meet patients where they are and provide care grounded in science. Medical cannabis, when used appropriately, can be a powerful tool and it’s time our policies reflect that reality.”
“Cannabis therapy gave me back enough function to fight my brain cancer,” said Hal Brown, who is now cancer-free. “I could be present for my family during the hardest months of my life and have been ever since. No one should have to navigate a federal bureaucracy just to get that kind of relief."
"This program moves the conversation out of the realm of stigma and into one of science, physician leadership, and patient care. Millions of Americans are already using cannabinoid therapies to manage their medical conditions. Our hope is that this program is the first step towards building a responsible federal framework that protects patients, supports doctors, expands research, and helps establish clear standards of care,” said Sasha Kalcheff-Korn, NCCC Member and Executive Director of Realm of Caring.
About NCCC: The National Compassionate Care Council (NCCC) is dedicated to modernizing the standard of care and bridging the gap between slow-moving regulations and the patients who need relief now. By prioritizing patients over paperwork, NCCC leverages real-world evidence and expert collaboration to advocate for safe, immediate access to physician-guided cannabinoid therapies for those who lack the benefit of time. Our mission is simple: more healing, less waiting. Learn more at compassionatecarecouncil.org
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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Abby Keblish at abby@javelindc.com or 302-824-9753
