Bipartisan CHRONIC Care Act of 2017 aims to improve chronic care coordination

In April, new legislation was introduced in the Senate that seeks to streamline chronic care coordination and strengthen treatments for patients struggling with chronic illnesses.

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee passed the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill to strengthen and improve the health outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries living with chronic conditions.

Some of the bill’s provisions include allowing Medicare Advantage plans to adjust chronic care coordination and coverage for specific types of patient like those with diabetes. It also would allow accountable care organizations (ACOs) make incentive payments to help patients with chronic conditions obtain primary care services. Another major provision widens use of telehealth among Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, ACOs and individuals with stroke.

“Today’s passage of the CHRONIC Care Act is an important step forward for people suffering from debilitating diseases in Colorado and across the country,” said Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “Chronic conditions strain families and increase healthcare costs. By modernizing the Medicare program, we can address both of these challenges. We’ll work to advance this bill, so we can improve the health and well-being of families, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes.”