U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, last week introduced two pieces of bipartisan Medicare legislation.
Tiberi on July 6 introduced H.R. 3168, which is co-sponsored by subcommittee ranking member Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), and would amend the Social Security Act so that people with special needs — including senior citizens, people living in poverty or those having a chronic illness — receive continued access to certain Medicare Advantage plans.
Specifically, H.R. 3168 would reauthorize Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs), Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs) and Dual Eligible SNPs (D-SNPs) for five years, the longest reauthorization since SNPs were created, the representatives said.
Additionally, the bill for the first time would make Institutional SNPs (I-SNPs) permanent.
Tiberi said the bill aims to increase transparency, incentivize and reward efficient and coordinated care and improve health outcomes for “some of the frailest and sickest beneficiaries in the Medicare program.”
“Our bipartisan legislation will provide the certainty these patients need to access the quality care they rely on over the long term,” the congressman said. “While Congress has routinely reauthorized SNPs every two to three years, this legislation puts the SNP program on a stronger and more permanent path.”
H.R. 3168 has been referred to both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.
On July 7, Tiberi and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) unveiled H.R. 3163, the Medicare Part B Home Infusion Services Temporary Transitional Payment Act, which would create a new transitional payment structure for home infusion services providers.
Typically, home infusion therapies are used to treat a number of diseases intravenously when patients are unresponsive to oral medications, such as with some cancers or gastrointestinal disorders, according to the National Home Infusion Association.
Tiberi said the bill would set up the transitional payment structure before policies under the 21st Century Cures Act take effect in 2021 when Medicare implements a new home infusion nursing benefit.
Until that time, this bill would ensure providers have the necessary resources to likewise ensure “that patients can continue to receive the home infusion therapies they need in the comfort of their homes,” Tiberi said.
H.R. 3163 also has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.