Proposed Bill Will Expand CCM

In late June, US Representatives Suzan K. DelBene (WA) and Peter Welch (VT) introduced an amendment to the Social Security Act entitled Chronic Care Management Improvement Act. This bill, H.R. 3436, would remove patient responsibility for chronic care management (CCM) serviced under the Medicare program. The bill has been introduced to both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee, Rep. Richard Neal (MA), cited the bill’s positive impact on the committee’s constituents in his opening statement. He stated that the bill’s provisions would help to ease access to care for thousands of Medicare recipients. This is especially true for rural recipients. Rep. Neal stressed that patient responsibility for CCM was a significant barrier to participation in an “important Medicare benefit. If enacted, this bill would erase that barrier for millions.