Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) on Thursday would improve coordination of care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions.
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Paulsen cosponsored the Better Care, Lower Cost Act, H.R. 4878, to establish voluntary programs that aim to reduce hospital readmissions and provide better health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.
“It’s time to bring our health care system into the 21st century and embrace reforms that will deliver better care at lower costs to patients,” Paulsen said. “With chronic conditions driving the majority of costs in Medicare, our focus should be on improving coordinated care and patient outcomes. Advancements in the medical field, like telemedicine, can help us achieve our goals by bringing the best chronic care management to all corners of the country.”
Current federal rules prohibit providers that specialize in chronic care from targeting high-risk patients that would benefit from coordinated care.
Under the bill, a voluntary program would enable Medicare beneficiaries with at least two chronic conditions to elect to participate in coordinated care plans. Reimbursement for these health plans would be based on health outcomes.
“It is essential that we do a better job coordinating health care services for seniors suffering from chronic conditions,” Welch said. “In today’s system, seniors must navigate a maze of health care providers on their own. Our bill, based on Vermont’s successful Blueprint for Health, will encourage providers to coordinate care and reward them for achieving healthy outcomes rather than the number of services they provide. It’s a common sense solution that is long overdue.”
John Rother, the president and CEO of the National Coalition on Health Care, said that the bill would enable Medicare enrollees with multiple chronic conditions to choose to receive care that’s tailored to meet their needs.
“Not only do these seniors and the disabled Americans deserve this sort of well-coordinated care, but Medicare’s long-term financial trajectory could depend on their getting it,” Rother said. “The original introduction of the Better Care, Lower Cost Act helped spark the ongoing Chronic Care Working Group effort in the Senate. We hope (Thursday’s) reintroduction spurs additional attention to chronic disease on the House side as well.”