HB 1403 Summary

• Establishes the "Independence at Home Act" creating a chronic care coordination pilot project to provide primary medical services in the homes of high-cost Medicaid beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions.

• Requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to contract with at least two Independence at Home organizations per county for a 3-year initial phase, with expansion possible if objectives are met.

• Mandates participating organizations achieve minimum 5 percent annual cost savings through reduced hospitalizations, nursing home admissions, and emergency room visits while improving patient and caregiver satisfaction.

• Organizations must employ or contract with qualified physicians, nurse practitioners, and coordinators to provide 24/7 emergency care, assessments, care plans, and coordination services including medication management and education.

• Requires independent evaluation of pilot project outcomes with reports to Legislature; organizations failing to achieve savings must refund excess payments, with excess savings above thresholds shared between organizations and the state.