The bill would protect access to home health care by preventing CMS from making cuts to the Medicaid Home Health Program.
U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) recently introduced the Preserving Access to Home Health Act, preventing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing dire cuts of 7.85% to the Medicare Home Health Program, safeguarding access to essential, clinical home-based healthcare services.
The bill has bipartisan support.
"We strongly support this essential legislation as current policy positions of CMS put access to home health services for the over three million beneficiaries that utilize this care in jeopardy," William A. Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, said in a statement.
"The Medicare home health benefit has shrunk over the last decade due to various payment cuts, the most recent of which is the subject of the legislation."
The bill addresses CMS cuts specifically with two policy changes: repealing permanent and temporary payment adjustments and instructing the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to analyze the Medicare Home Health Program to consider the impact of all payers on access to care for beneficiaries.
The Preserving Access to Home Health Act is needed to protect the future viability of the Medicare home health program, according to the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare and National Association for Home Care and Hospice.
Going forward, the home health leaders want lawmakers to consider the following:
Medicare home health spending is projected to drop to $18 billion to $16 billion this year, and $15 billion in 2024 onward, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Most Medicare beneficiaries prefer to receive post-hospital, short-term care at home.
Home health saves the Medicare Trust Fund $1.38 billion over six years due to avoided hospitalizations and skilled nursing placements.
Without home health, hospital lengths of stay are increasing, and patients are unable to transition easily from hospital to home.
"We applaud Senators Stabenow and Collins for their leadership in introducing this bill and their ongoing efforts to protect the Medicare home health benefit," Joanne Cunningham, CEO of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, said in a statement. "This legislation offers the stability the Medicare home health community so urgently needs."
“We strongly support this essential legislation as current policy positions of CMS put access to home health services for the over three million beneficiaries that utilize this care in jeopardy.”
William A. Dombi, president, National Association for Home Care and Hospice
Jasmyne Ray is the revenue cycle editor at HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Medicaid home health benefits have shrunk over the last few years due to payment cuts.
Home health care has saved the Medicare Trust Fund $1.38 billion over six years.