AHA voices support for Independence at Home Act

The AHA last week expressed support for the Independence at Home Act (S. 3130), which would make permanent a Medicare demonstration program that provides primary care to patients at home. “National and permanent expansion of the model would allow more providers to implement its home-based approach as part of their overall care redesign efforts and – more importantly – allow more Medicare beneficiaries to appreciate its benefits,” said AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels in a letter of support to Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Ed Markey (D-MA), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), the bill’s sponsors. The Affordable Care Act created the three-year Independence at Home demonstration program, which Congress last year extended for another two years.