Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson today announced the introduction of legislation intended to significantly improve the Medicare chronic care demonstration system.

     This bipartisan legislation, titled The Medicare Chronic Care Practice Research Network Act of 2007, was forged with input and advice from eight leading health care institutions including Carle Foundation Hospital of Urbana. The bill establishes a standing network of chronic care experts who would partner with Medicare to implement and analyze care management and care coordination interventions focused on patients with multiple chronic conditions.

     "It has been a pleasure to work with this diverse array of medical experts and practitioners,” Rep. Johnson said. “This bill is an example of people working together collegially to accomplish a greater good. The bottom line is this undertaking will target and manage care for the sickest among us, primarily the elderly most in need of a helping hand at this time in their lives."

     Dr. Cheryl Schraeder, head of the Health Systems Research Center at Carle, helped develop the concept.

     "The Medicare Chronic Care Practice Research Network will help dramatically improve the efficiency of the chronic-care demonstration process. It will also provide CMS with the infrastructure needed to disburse evidence-based information on interventions that work throughout the care community," Dr. Schraeder said.

     "On behalf of the MCCPRN steering committee and numerous other leaders in this field who have endorsed the concept, I’d like to thank Congressman Tim Johnson and his colleagues for introducing this legislation. With Medicare spending on beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions continuing to grow, we desperately need this network if we are to improve the situation," Dr. Schraeder said.

     Dr. James Leonard, CEO of Carle, said the hospital is enthusiastic about this groundbreaking effort.

     "Carle Foundation Hospital is very committed to this research network. We believe that it will definitely improve care management services for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions," Dr. Leonard said.

     Other members of the network include Washington University, Avera Research Institute, Cen Va Net, The Jewish Home and Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, Health Quality Partners and Hospice of the Valley.

     Joining Rep. Johnson as original cosponsors of the bill are Reps. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania, Kenny Hulshof of Missouri, Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin of South Dakota, Tom Latham of Iowa and Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania.

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