Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., commended the House of Representatives Wednesday after the passage of H.R. 2196, “the Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Improvement Act of 2015.” The bill extends the Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program (IAH) – already proven to cut costs while providing valuable benefits to high-need beneficiaries – from 3 to 5 years.

“I commend my colleagues for extending this commonsense program for our most vulnerable senior beneficiaries and taxpayers,” Rep. Burgess said. “Under IAH, high-need patients will continue receiving individual care in the comfort of their homes while providers at hospitals, emergency rooms, and nursing homes are able to spend more free time with their patients. IAH is improving the quality of care and its provider groups are generating significant savings. I’m pleased to see that this body recognizes its value.”

Created with unanimous support in 2010, IAH provides home-based primary care to high-need Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions, avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations, ER visits, and nursing home use. The beneficiaries aided by IAH currently account for the majority of Medicare costs, and are expected to account for increasing costs over the next 10 years.

While CBO has scored H.R. 2196 at $0, IAH is generating substantial savings. Practices must generate savings of at least 5% or be excluded from the program. CMS released practice results from year one of the program showing savings of more than $25 million in the first performance year At this point, all 15 original participants are still enrolled in the demonstration, meaning all programs are generating savings of at least 5%.

H.R. 2196 is endorsed by the American Osteopathic Association and the Independence at Home Coalition, which includes national medical societies and patient advocacy organizations such as AARP, The American Nurses Association, and The American Academy of Home Care Physicians.

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