NTOCC Supports Legislation Intended to Improve Transitions in Care for Medicare Beneficiaries

In a recent news release, the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC) announced its support for the Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2014, legislation designed to improve transitions of care for Medicare beneficiaries at the highest risk for readmission during their transition from a hospital setting to their home, skilled nursing facility, or next point of care.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore), and Thomas Petri (R-Wis). The NTOCC states in the release that it feels the bill is a key step toward improving patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary health-related expenses. The release adds that poorly managed care transitions can lead to serious concerns, encompassing patient safety, quality of care, and health outcomes.  Avoidable complications and unnecessary hospital readmissions as a result of gaps in care can also lead to significant financial burdens for patients, payers, and taxpayers, according to the release.

Cheri Lattimer, NTOCC executive director, explains that as Congress searches for effective policies intended to promote value-based, coordinated care, and improve patient outcomes, it is key that these gaps in care remaining during patients’ transitions between settings are addressed.

“The Medicare Transitional Care Act puts in place the necessary infrastructure to foster care transition interventions with collaborative team approaches that have proven successful, which will lead to better health outcomes for beneficiaries and offer real cost savings for patients, the health care system and taxpayers,” Lattimer states.

As stated in the release, the Medicare Transitional Care Act is intended to create a specific payment for coordination activities that would ensure beneficiaries and providers receive the support required during transitions from the hospital. Payment for these services would be linked to performance methods to ensure that interventions result in enhanced outcomes, ultimately leading to long-term economic benefits for Medicare.

Source(s): PRWeb, NTOCC