Passage of the CHRONIC Act Would Extend the Independence at Home (IAH) Demonstration Program
Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 7:44 PM
The Chronic Care Act has been reintroduced in the Senate. If passed, it would extend the successful Independence at Home Demonstration program. Improvements for The Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017 (S. 870) have been in the works for the past two years.
Senators’ have continued their efforts to care for individuals suffering long term health issues. As of May 1st, there is an even split of bipartisan support from leading members of the Senate.
The CHRONIC Act would extend the Independence at Home (IAH) Demonstration program and will test payment incentive models. If there’s no extension, then the IAH demonstration program will expire on September 30, 2017. The extension would expand the beneficiary limit to 15,000 and set a new expiration date of September 20, 2019.
Additionally, the CHRONIC Care Act would make the following adjustments in how telehealth services can determine as a traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage benefit:
• Medicare Advantage plans would offer additional telehealth services in plans annual bids that go beyond the current payments they receive under Medicare Part B
• New services made eligible would be decided by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Regulations on Accountable Care Organizations use of telehealth would be laid-back
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to markup the CHRONIC Care Act in May.
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