The AAMC joined more than 40 national organizations in an April 14 letter (PDF) supporting the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act of 2026 (H.R. 8261), bipartisan legislation led by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) to expand access to care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. The legislation would eliminate the 20% beneficiary cost-sharing requirement for chronic care management (CCM) services, which the letter notes would remove a key barrier preventing patients from accessing critical care coordination and management support.
In the letter, the groups highlighted that despite the benefits of CCM, only a small fraction of eligible Medicare beneficiaries currently receive these services, in part due to cost-sharing requirements that can be confusing and burdensome for patients. The letter also pointed to data showing that CCM participation can lower overall Medicare spending, underscoring the program’s value in improving care while reducing costs. The groups urged Congress to pass the legislation to ensure more patients can access coordinated, high-quality care and to strengthen support for clinicians managing complex chronic conditions.
- Washington Highlights