Congress and the Trump administration is proposing to revamp Medicare to provide extra benefits to people with multiple chronic illnesses, a significant departure from the program’s traditional focus that aims to create a new model of care for millions of older Americans. The changes — reflected in a new law and in official guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services — tackle a vexing and costly problem in American health care: how to deal with long-term illnesses that can build on one another, and the social factors outside the reach of traditional medicine that can contribute to them, like nutrition, transportation, and housing. To that end, the additional benefits can include social and medical services, home improvements like wheelchair ramps, transportation to doctor’s offices, and home delivery of hot meals. (Robert Pear, New York Times)
