Seniors with Chronic Conditions to Get Most Medicare Services at Home
Medicare testing if expanding services will improve care, lower costs for seniors and other disabled
Dec. 20, 2011 - Up to 10,000 Medicare patients with chronic conditions will now be able to get most of the care they need
at home under a new demonstration announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
This program gives new life to the old practice of house calls, but with 21st Century technology and a team approach,
said CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.
Created by the Affordable Care Act, the new Independence at Home Demonstration greatly expands the scope of in-home
services Medicare beneficiaries can receive.
The Independence at Home Demonstration will provide chronically ill patients with a complete range of primary care
services. Participation in the Demonstration is voluntary for Medicare beneficiaries.
In my days as a practicing nurse, I saw many patients whose health improved when they were happier with their living
conditions, said Tavenner.
When a critically-ill patient can remain in familiar surroundings, the benefits are many: the person retains greater
control over their daily lives, families and caregivers report greater satisfaction with the care, and unnecessary hospitalizations are
avoided.
CMS will join with medical practices to test the effectiveness of delivering primary care services in a home setting on
improving care for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions. Medical practices led by physicians or nurse practitioners will
provide primary care home visits tailored to the needs of beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions and functional limitations.
The Demonstration will reward healthcare providers that show a reduction in Medicare expenditures through an incentive
payment if they succeed in providing high-quality care while reducing costs. CMS will use quality measures to ensure beneficiaries experience
high quality care.
Medical practices eligible to participate in the Demonstration must include physicians or nurse practitioners who have
experience delivering home-based primary care.
Up to 50 practices will be selected and each must serve at least 200 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with multiple
chronic conditions and functional limitations. Practices in the demonstration will be responsible for coordinating patient care with other
health and social service professionals.
The new demonstration is one of a series of CMS initiatives to build a Medicare program that offers beneficiaries better
care and better health at an affordable cost. It will be supported by the CMS Innovation Center, which was created by the Affordable Care Act
to develop and test new models of health care delivery and payment, and disperse best practices throughout the health care system.
Applications and Letters of Intent, if applicable, are due on February 6, 2012. Additional information about this
demonstration, including how to apply, can be found at
Dec. 20, 2011 - Up to 10,000 Medicare patients with chronic conditions will now be able to get most of the care they need
at home under a new demonstration announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 
About half the cut in payment rate in 2012 - 2011 was result of provision in
2010 health law that lowered the fees
Medicare has new Special Enrollment Period for joining 5-star plans all year long