Recommendations for a Medicare Coordinated Care Benefit

Developed at the Center for Medicare Advocacy's National Conference

At a Washington, DC conference convened by the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. and supported by the Commonwealth Fund, a group of fifty care-providers, policy-makers, researchers, and advocates came together to discuss and formulate recommendations for a Coordinated Care Benefit to be incorporated into the traditional Medicare program. The March 2002 Conference was designed and administered by staff of the Center for Medicare Advocacy - nationally recognized experts in Medicare beneficiary coverage and appeal issues.

The Conference included leading professionals from the fields of gerontology, health law, health policy, health economics and finance, medicine, and care management for older persons and persons with disabilities. Richard Bringewatt, NCCC President and CEO, and Valerie Wilbur, NCCC Policy Consultant were invited participants. The group met over a two-day period to discuss, frame, and refine comprehensive recommendations for a Medicare Coordinated Care Benefit.

Conferees focused on building a broader, more comprehensive definition and understanding of the function and funding of care coordination, leading to a consensus on the nature and scope of care coordination as a traditional Medicare benefit, access to the benefit, payment methodologies, and costs to beneficiaries.

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