The Senate has quietly and unanimously passed a bill that would improve some Medicare benefits for people with chronic disease. The measure would do many good things but the most important is that it would take important steps toward breaking down the wall between medical treatment and non-medical supports and services in Medicare, beginning a process that would make it much easier for frail seniors to receive the right care when they need it.
Lawmakers and telehealth advocates were predictably pleased with the Senate’s passage of bipartisan legislation that would extend telehealth benefits to several patient populations battling chronic illnesses. Following another failed attempt to repeal-and-replace the Affordable Care Act, the CHRONIC Care Act of 2017 unanimously passed through the Senate Floor on Wednesday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that three out of four Americans 65 and older have multiple chronic conditions. Engaging people with co-morbidities is often a way to improve health conditions, but the HealthMine survey found that’s not the case for many in the Medicare population.
The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed legislation that would make telehealth a core benefit in Medicare Advantage plans. Representative Diane Black stated, “This bill is about upgrading current law to not just allow but actually to encourage the use of telehealth technology to bring the best healthcare possible to our seniors, while also working to address those skyrocketing healthcare costs.”
Provider groups and health IT advocacy organizations are generally pleased with a proposal issued by federal officials to expand Medicare coverage for telehealth services under the 2018 physician fee schedule, but several are pushing for even more flexibility to integrate connected health technology.
The movement toward value-based care has been the major focus of the public and private sectors as a means to control cost and improve health care quality and outcomes. These value-based models are creating more urgent financial incentives and pressures for the health care system to think more about what creates and maintains health, rather than just treating illness.
Getting patients with chronic illnesses to take their prescribed medications so they stay well can be a big challenge for doctors. There are many reasons why an estimated 80% of patients with chronic conditions don’t stick to their care management plans, including medication regimens, according to PatientEngagementHIT.
Patient motivation techniques are critical for providers trying to activate patients in chronic care management programs. In all of healthcare, but especially in chronic disease management, it is important for patients to be active participants in their own wellness journey
Chronic diseases are on the rise in the United States, leaving healthcare payers with the challenge of covering care for patients with these expensive, long-term conditions. Experts such as the AMA have asked private and public payers to fund chronic disease management programs because chronic diseases are such a costly healthcare endeavor.
Population health is a grand vision with many working parts, and the opportunities are both enormous and challenging when it comes to revenue and care delivery outcomes. Experts will share insights and success stories about the opportunities and hard-wrought lessons learned at the Pop Health Forum Oct. 2 to 3 in Chicago.
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