Medicare To Begin Paying Physicians To Coordinate Care For Patients With Chronic Illnesses
The New York Times: Medicare To Start Paying Doctors Who Coordinate Needs Of Chronically Ill PatientsIn a policy change, the Obama administration is planning to pay doctors to coordinate the care of Medicare beneficiaries, amid growing evidence that patients with chronic illnesses suffer from disjointed, fragmented care. Although doctors have often performed such work between office visits by patients, they have historically not been paid for it. Starting in January, Medicare will pay monthly fees to doctors who manage care for patients with two or more chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and depression (Pear, 8/16). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
