This week., the Senate approved legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., to improve the quality and coordination of health care while reducing costs for Medicare patients living with chronic health conditions.
 
The Senate passed the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic Care Act of 2017 by unanimous consent on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
 
“This legislation will empower doctors and patients to work together to improve overall health and help keep patients out of the hospital,” said Isakson. “I am thrilled the Senate passed this critical legislation to help ensure seniors with multiple chronic health conditions receive better care at a lower cost through Medicare.”
 
The CHRONIC Care Act of 2017 was introduced on April 6, 2017, by Isakson, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee’s Chronic Care working group, along with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., who co-chairs the working group with Isakson.
 
The bipartisan measure was approved by the Senate Finance Committee on May 18, 2017.
 
A full summary of the CHRONIC Care Act of 2017 can be found here, and highlights of the legislation include:
 
· Permanently reauthorizing and strengthening Medicare Advantage Special Needs plans to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions or other significant health needs have continued access to quality care that is tailored to their personal needs;
 
· Expanding telehealth services offered through different providers of care that will benefit seniors in rural areas and increase access to primary care services and telestroke care; and

· Extending the proven “independence at home” model that allows seniors to receive care from primary care teams. This provision aims to decrease hospital readmissions and to allow seniors with multiple chronic conditions to receive care in their own home.