Pew Addresses Plan by Senate Finance Committee’s Chronic Care Working Group

The Pew Charitable Trusts commented on a white paper issued by the Senate Finance Committee’s Chronic Care Working Group that explores federal options for improving outcomes for Medicare patients with serious and chronic illnesses. In written comments to the chairman and ranking member of the committee, as well as to the co-chairs of the bipartisan working group, Pew supported the policymakers’ suggestion of an initiative that would develop quality measures for end-of-life care. Pew also supported the idea of a Government Accountability Office report on community-level measures that addresses end-of-life care. Additionally, Pew urges the working group to take a cautious approach to including a hospice benefit for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. Such a proposal should first be explored through a demonstration project.