New Bipartisan Bill Would Overhaul Chronic Care

Broadcast version of this story.

It’s called the Better Care, Lower Cost Act.

It’s one of those rare bills that has support from both sides of the aisle.

The name itself pretty much spells out how Medicare enrollees with multiple chronic conditions would benefit.

Better care with lower cost.

In an early morning Washington, D.C. press conference, both Democratic and Republican members of Congress use the time to sell the idea.

And so did Emory Healthcare’s Chief Medical and Quality Officer, Dr. William Bornstein.

“I’m an endocrinologist. I take care of patients with diabetes and I can tell you that seeing a patient with diabetes every three of four months for fifteen minutes or twenty minutes just doesn’t work.”

Dr. Bornstein believes that better care coordination for those with multiple chronic conditions will actually attract more physicians and healthcare providers.

“Who are getting burned out in the current system,” says Bornstein.

They are frustrated by challenges such as not being able to provide the proper healthcare for patients.

“It’s these kind of models and in particular, a model like this one, with the details done right that will rejuvenate our providers.”

The legislation calls for a single fee per Medicare enrollee.

And part of the idea is to that everyone from nurses, to doctors to specialists working with a single patient are sharing information to provide the best care for the individual.