Medicare Allows More Benefits for Chronically Ill, Aiming to Improve Care for Millions

Medicare is being revamped by Congress and the Trump administration to provide extra benefits to people with multiple chronic illnesses, reports the New York Times . The additional benefits can include social and medical services, home improvements like wheelchair ramps, transportation to doctor's offices, and home delivery of hot meals. The new law, the Chronic Care Act, has received support from both parties, as well as Medicare officials and insurance companies that operate the Medicare Advantage plans serving one-third of the 60 million Medicare beneficiaries. "This is a way to update and strengthen Medicare," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), an architect of the law. "It begins a transformational change in the way Medicare works for seniors who suffer from chronic conditions. More of them will be able to receive care at home, so they can stay independent and out of the hospital." One-half of Medicare patients are treated for five or more chronic conditions each year, and they account for 75% of Medicare spending, according to Kenneth Thorpe, the chairman of the health policy department at Emory University. Under the new law and Trump administration policy, most of the new benefits will be reserved for Medicare Advantage plans, which will be able to offer additional benefits tailored to the needs of people with conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and some types of cancer.