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S 1932 113th Congress Senate

Better Care, Lower Cost Act

Official title: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare Better Care Program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with c… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare Better Care Program to provide integrated care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 15, 2014 Introduced by: Wyden, Ron Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
Health Education programs fundingHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutions
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Health information and medical recordsHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesLong-term, rehabilitative, and terminal careMedicaidMedical educationMedical researchMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMedicarePerformance measurementPrescription drugsRural conditions and developmentTeaching, teachers, curricula
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 15, 2014
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S374-379)
Jan 15, 2014
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S373-374)
Jan 15, 2014
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action January 15, 2014

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S374-379)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Better Care, Lower Cost Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an integrated chronic care delivery program (Better Care Program or BCP) that promotes accountability and better care management for chronically ill patient populations and coordinates items and services under Medicare parts A (Hospital Insurance), B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), and D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program), while encouraging investment in infrastructure and redesigned care processes that result in high quality and efficient service delivery for the most vulnerable and costly populations.

Requires the program to include specified elements and focus on long-term cost containment and better overall health of the Medicare population by implementing through qualified BCPs strategies that prevent, delay, or minimize the progression of illness or disability associated with chronic conditions.

Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to require a state to pay the Secretary, with certain adjustments, for full benefit dual eligible individuals (eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid) enrolled in a qualified BCP. Makes Medicare the primary payor for such individuals.

Amends SSA title XVIII part C (Medicare+Choice Program) to direct the Secretary to establish procedures for the transition of special needs individuals to a Medicare Advantage plan qualified BCPs.

Prohibits any Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy from covering cost-sharing for items and services (other than certain emergent services) furnished to an enrollee in a qualified BCP by a service provider or supplier that is not a qualified BCP professional.

Revises requirements for the initial preventive physical examination (Welcome to Medicare visit) and annual wellness visits for BCP eligible individuals.

Directs the Secretary, acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to designate and provide core funding for at least three Chronic Care Innovation Centers.

Establishes new curricula requirements for direct and indirect graduate medical education payments that address the need for team-based care and chronic care management, including palliative medicine, chronic care management, leadership and team-based skills and planning, and leveraging technology as a care tool.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1932: Better Care, Lower Cost Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1932/
MLA
"S. 1932: Better Care, Lower Cost Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1932/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1932, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1932/.
Markdown link
[S. 1932: Better Care, Lower Cost Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1932/)
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