Burgess introduces bipartisan legislation to prolong Medicare’s at-home care program

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) on July 9 sponsored a bipartisan bill to continue the Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program (IAH) under Medicare for three more years.

“By extending IAH, Congress can improve seniors’ access to quality health care and generate savings for American taxpayers,” Rep. Burgess said.

The congressman introduced the Independence at Home Demonstration Act of 2019, H.R. 3644, with lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI).

“The Independence at Home program is a fiscally responsible solution to help seniors access quality health care and expand the capacity of our nation’s health care system,” said Rep. Burgess. “Under this program, high-need patients continue to receive individual care in the comfort of their homes, reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and allowing physicians and primary care teams to spend more time with patients.”

The IAH program, created in 2010 and extended for two years in 2018, offers home-based primary care to Medicare beneficiaries who are suffering several chronic conditions at once, according to information provided by Rep. Burgess’ office, which noted that the types of beneficiaries enrolled in IAH currently account for the majority of Medicare costs.

H.R. 3644 has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.