Finance Committee seeks comments on chronic care policy options

Senate Finance Committee leaders seek comment through Jan. 26 on policy options the committee is considering to improve how Medicare treats beneficiaries with multiple, complex chronic illnesses. The options paper organizes the policies into several key areas under consideration: providing high-quality health care in the home; improving access to interdisciplinary, team-based health care; expanding innovation in benefit design and access to technology; identifying ways to improve payments and quality for the chronically ill population; and empowering patients and caregivers in care delivery. The committee’s chronic care working group plans to use congressional and stakeholder input to develop a bipartisan legislative proposal. Comments can be sent to chronic_care@finance.senate.gov. In recommendations submitted in June, the AHA urged the senators to consider expanding access to telehealth, removing legal barriers to clinical integration, and better engaging beneficiaries in their health and health care.