"Our bill puts patients first by promoting coordinated care designed to quickly identify and treat emerging health problems and, where possible, avoid hospitalizations, improving patients' quality of life while also cutting costs. Patients and their families will spend less time juggling conflicting diagnoses and multiple doctors, and more time focused on living their lives as independently as possible, in their own homes. I am proud to partner with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and in both bodies of the Congress, on this important legislation," said Rep. Markey.

"I am pleased to join my good friend Ed Markey in introducing the Independence at Home Act of 2008 and thank him for his leadership on this issue.  This legislation will enable Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions to receive the care they need and remain in a comfortable home environment for as long as possible.  Physicians, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals will have the tools necessary to maximize patient care while minimizing cost and at the same time generate savings," said Rep. Smith.

"For too long, people struggling with multiple chronic conditions have faced them alone and under the weight of unnecessary red tape from their government," said Sen. Wyden. "The Independence at Home Act will not only improve patients' health and offer them more freedom - it should also lead to finding better ways to deliver care and cut costs."

 The Independence at Home Act:

• Establishes a three-year Medicare demonstration project using a patient-centered health care delivery model to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions can remain independent for as long as possible in a comfortable environment;
• Advances Medicare reform by creating incentives for providers to develop better and lower-cost health care for the highest cost beneficiaries; 
• Incorporates lessons from past Medicare demonstration projects;
• Provides for physician and nurse practitioner-directed programs that hold providers accountable for quality, patient satisfaction, and mandatory annual minimum savings; and 
• Generates savings by providing better care to Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions and reducing duplicative and unnecessary services, hospitalization, and other health care costs.

"Through the creation of demonstration projects across the country, the Independence at Home Act will offer the most vulnerable Medicare patients the opportunity to receive high-quality care in their own homes, so that they can remain independent as long as their health conditions permit," added Rep. Markey.

The following organizations have announced their support for the Independence at Home Act:

• American Academy of Home Care Physicians;
• AARP;
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners;
• National Family Caregivers Association;
• Family Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving;
• American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging;
• Maryland-National Capital Home Care Association;
• Visiting Nurse Associations of America, and
• Intel Corp.

The full text of the bill is available here: Independence at Home Act

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