A bipartisan group of senators comprising US Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (Republican, Utah), Finance Committee Ranking Democratic Member Ron Wyden (Democrat, Oregon), Senator Johnny Isakson (Republican, Georgia) and Senator Mark Warner (Democrat, Virginia) has introduced Section 870 of the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic Care Act. Isakson and Warner are co-chairs of the Senate Finance Committee Chronic Care Working Group.

The legislation reflects proposals included in the Bipartisan Chronic Care Working Group Policy Options Document released at the end of 2015 and the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic Care Act of 2016. The 2017 act would:

  • extend the Affordable Care Act's Independence at Home model of care;
  • expand access to home dialysis therapy;
  • provide sustained access to Medicare Advantage special needs plans for certain vulnerable populations;
  • adjust Medicare Advantage benefits to meet the needs of chronically ill beneficiaries;
  • expand supplemental benefits for chronically ill Medicare Advantage beneficiaries;
  • expand telehealth benefits for chronically ill Medicare Advantage beneficiaries;
  • provide enhanced flexibility for individuals to participate in accountable care organisations (ACOs);
  • enhance coordination of care in ACOs; and
  • direct the Government Accountability Office to study and issue reports on:
    • serious or life-threatening illnesses that affect Medicare beneficiaries;
    • medication synchronisation; and
    • the impact of obesity drugs on health and spending.

For further information on this topic please contact Stephanie P Hales, Dora Hughes or Laura R Cohen at Sidley Austin LLP by telephone (+1 202 736 8000) or email ([email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]). The Sidley Austin LLP website can be accessed at www.sidley.com.

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