Medicare will now pay for some services it used to call 'experimental'

Medicare is proposing new rules that would change how it decides what treatments and services it will pay for. This means some medical services that were previously considered experimental or unproven could now be covered, especially for people with complex health needs.

For years, Medicare's coverage decisions have been based on a narrow view of what counts as 'medically necessary,' often excluding newer or integrated care models. This proposal broadens that definition, allowing for coverage of services that address social determinants of health or use different care settings. It could open the door for more holistic and preventative care, especially for patients with multiple chronic conditions.