Congress Introduces Bill to Change Medicare Payments, Aiming to Expand Chronic Care Access
A new bipartisan bill, the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act, has been introduced in Congress to eliminate the 20 percent coinsurance requirement for Medicare's chronic care management services. This legislation aims to expand access for seniors with multiple chronic conditions by altering how providers are paid for coordinating ongoing care. The bill has garnered support from major healthcare and patient advocacy organizations, who argue that the current payment structure results in low participation rates. Currently, only about 4 percent of eligible Medicare beneficiaries utilize these services, despite more than 22 million qualifying. The bill was introduced by Representative Suzan DelBene, a Democrat from Washington, and Representative Mike Kelly, a Republican from Pennsylvania. 
