Support the Independence at Home Act

If you are interested in advocating for improved care for patients with multiple chronic illnesses, or just fed up with how care is delivered for the most frail, vulnerable, and costly Medicare beneficiaries, it’s time to act. Congress has in it’s lap the Independence at Home Act of 2009. This act amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize voluntary home care coordination pilot programs for high-cost Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions.

These pilot programs would focus on beneficiaries with two or more specified high cost chronic illnesses that have utilized certain Medicare benefits in the past 12 months, and that have an inability to perform two or more ADLs. The pilot programs will put together a team that consists of health care professionals directed by a qualified IAH physician or nurse practitioner who coordinates health care across all treatment settings. Best of all these programs will pay for themselves out of the gate because they must meet three performance standards including

o Minimum savings of 5% per year;
o Outcomes appropriate for the beneficiary’s condition; and
o Patient satisfaction.

It’s time to improve the coordination of care we give to patients with multiple comorbid conditions, and to promote independent living. Check out http://www.aahcp.org/iahsummary.pdf or an article on CNN to learn more – or get out there and write your sentor!