{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sewell-sponsors-bill-improve-medicare-advantage-chronically-ill-seniors", "Rep. Sewell Sponsors Bill to Improve Medicare Advantage for Chronically Ill Seniors", "2017-06-29", "2017", "2017-06", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) cosponsored the introduction of H.R. 3044, bipartisan legislation that allows Medicare Advantage insurance plans to offer a wider array of benefits to chronically ill enrollees. The legislation waives uniformity requirements among Medicare Advantage plans and allows insurers to offer plans better tailored to meet the individual needs of patients with chronic illness.\n\u201cMany benefits necessary to improving health outcomes and quality of life for our seniors affected by chronic illness are not traditionally covered by Medicare Advantage,\u201d said Congresswoman Sewell. \u201cFor the 363,000 Alabamians enrolled in Medicare Advantage who suffer from one or more chronic illnesses, our bipartisan bill will enable better care coordination so they can access the benefits that meet their needs, including transportation services, nutrition programs, in-home support services, and more. Protecting our seniors\u2019 health should not be a partisan issue, and I\u2019m proud to have worked across the aisle to introduce bipartisan legislation to help seniors living with chronic conditions, like so many in Alabama.\u201d\nThe legislation was introduced by Congressman Patrick Meehan, and other original co-sponsors include Reps. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), and Joseph Kennedy (D-Mass.).\n\u201cIncreasing rates of chronic illness among older Americans and an aging population are real challenges for our health care system,\u201d said Congressman Meehan. \u201cChronic illnesses account for 70 percent of deaths in Pennsylvania each year, and seniors with chronic conditions are more likely to visit an emergency room or require hospitalization. More than a million seniors in Pennsylvania utilize Medicare Advantage plans. This bill will help seniors obtain a Medicare Advantage plan with benefits that best meet their needs. The result will be improved care and services for seniors coping with diabetes, arthritis and other chronic conditions.\u201d\n\u201cMany New Jerseyans count on Medicare Advantage,\u201d said Congressman Lance. \u201cI am pleased to join Congressman Meehan in this legislation to further advance the goals of Medicare Advantage and help craft a plan to provide patient-specific benefits for chronically ill enrollees.\u00a0 Expanding supplemental benefits can improve the lives of chronically ill individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage.\u00a0 We want to improve health outcomes while also ensuring the Medicare program is stable and continues provide high quality health care.\u201d\n\u201cI'm proud to support this bipartisan bill, which will facilitate better care coordination for millions of seniors affected by chronic illness,\u201d said Congresswoman DeGette. \u201cBy allowing plans to cover supplemental benefits that are not traditionally covered by Medicare Advantage, such as case management and meal delivery, we can deliver better health outcomes and quality of life for seniors who have complex care needs.\u201d\n\u201cOn behalf of the senior advocates, aging professionals, providers, and beneficiaries in our coalition, we commend this first step taken by Representatives Patrick Meehan, Terri Sewell, Diana DeGette, Joseph Kennedy and Leonard Lance to enable Medicare Advantage to offer a wider range of enhanced benefits critical to the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective health care to beneficiaries with multiple chronic illnesses,\u201d said Allyson Y. Schwartz, President & CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sewell-sponsors-bill-improve-medicare-advantage-chronically-ill-seniors"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.2225319407880306, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}