DMAA Applauds Adminstration Action WASHINGTON, DC—Supportive care for chronically ill senior citizens is one step closer to reality after the Bush Administration's announcement of the Medicare Modernization Act's (MMA) 'request for proposal' (RFP) for the chronic care improvement pilot program (e.g. Section 721). "For seniors with chronic health problems, this pilot program represents a significant opportunity to improve their health and optimize health care costs through highly coordinated care," said Sam Nussbaum, M.D., President of the Disease Management Association (DMAA). "We see this as just one of the ways MMA will help Medicare recipients partner with their health care professionals to better manage their conditions and possibly lead a higher quality life." "Chronic care and disease management has been successful for a number of years with commercial insurance plans, Medicare + Choice and Medicaid. Now some of these successes can be applied to the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) populations," Nussbaum added. "We look forward to working with Secretary Thompson, Administrator McClellan and Congress to ensure that this pilot program is as successful as we know it can be." As background, Section 721 of the MMA will for the first time provide Medicare beneficiaries - enrolled in the traditional FFS program - access to a voluntary chronic care improvement program through a national pilot process. "During last year's debate over this provision, DMAA Members worked tirelessly to respond to all manner of legislative requests. So, we look at today's announcement as yet one more opportunity for the disease management community to work together to help inform policy leaders on the benefits of disease management for America's seniors," added Christobel Selecky, CEO of LifeMasters Supported Selfcare, Inc., and DMAA President-elect and Chair of the DMAA Government Affairs Committee. DMAA is a nonprofit, voluntary membership organization, which represents all stakeholders of the disease management community. # # # |
