Legislation to Revamp Medicare for Chronic Conditions Recently Drafted

A new piece of legislation that has been drafted by the Senate Finance Committee may help to improve outcomes and care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease. 

The Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2016, which was created by Sens Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Mark Warner (D-Virginia), and Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), would form or expand upon existing Medicare programs aimed at reducing costs and improving care for those with chronic conditions, who account for nearly 93% of all Medicare spending, according to members of the Finance Committee’s Chronic Care Working Group.

The drafted legislation includes proposals for an expansion to home care and home dialysis services, would boost telehealth services for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and accountable care organizations (ACOs), and would eliminate barriers to care coordination in ACOs.

“At a time when chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke dominate Medicare, too many seniors receive fragmented care that too easily allows them to fall through the cracks,” Senator Wyden said in a press release. 

The draft has not yet received a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office. The legislation might see a Senate vote following the election on November 8, but that would require introducing a final bill.—Amanda Del Signore