Home-based care is arguably getting more attention from the U.S. president now than it ever has before.
So much so, in fact, that home health providers and advocates may start looking at President Biden himself as an ally in their fight against payment rate cuts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Biden’s comments during an event celebrating the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act included more support for home health care and its ability to increase patient satisfaction while reducing costs.
“People with disabilities could lose access to home health care and, with it, the ability to stay in their homes — which, by the way, shows it extends life of the people,” Biden said, ribbing his Republican counterparts. “People would much rather stay, if they could, just with a little bit of help in their own homes rather than go to a home. And it’s less expensive.”
Under Biden’s appointees in the Health and Human Services (HHS) department, however, CMS did implement a rate cut to home health Medicare payments in 2023, and plans to implement another one in 2024.
On the Medicaid side, though, the Biden administration has tried to commit more dollars to home- and community-based services (HCBS). The administration’s 2024 proposed budget, announced earlier this month, included $150 billion for HCBS over the next 10 years.
“Medicaid also pays for nursing home care for about two thirds of all Americans who live in nursing homes,” Biden said Wednesday. “Well, it’d be different if they were able to stay home.”
The $150 billion would support both state Medicaid programs and the caregivers conducting the care. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said it would help the U.S. recruit the next 1.3 million additional home care workers that the country needs “to meet the rising demand in America.”
Whether it’s through Medicare or Medicaid, home-based care does seem to be in Biden’s favor.
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