HHS to Fund Disease Management
Demonstration Projects
February 28, 2003 - During testimony Feb. 27 before
the Senate Finance Committee, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson
announced plans to improve the quality and efficiency of Medicare
services through capitated disease management demonstration
projects. The demonstration projects will provide coordinated
multispecialty disease management programs for Medicare beneficiaries
with chronic conditions such as congestive heart disease and
diabetes. Patients currently enrolled in the Medicare fee-for-service
program may elect to participate in the demonstrations.
Overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services
(CMS), the projects will run for three years. Under the demonstration,
providers will receive a capitated payment for all Medicare-covered
Part A and Part B services. The payment will reflect the complicated
health status of enrolled beneficiaries.
In a published statement, CMS Administrator Tom Scully said
he expects participating organizations to use "sophisticated
information technology" to provide "evidence-based
care." Mr. Scully added that he expects the organizations
to place particular emphasis on the "improvement of care
processes and patient outcomes."
Secretary Thompson had discussed the possibility of demonstration
projects at a House Budget Committee hearing the previous
day. During the hearing, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) advised
the Secretary that Eastern Virginia Medical School would be
a good candidate for a diabetes demonstration project, given
their current focus on the chronic disease.
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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