President Joe Biden and his administration are using the importance of personal home care as a way to fight back against some Congress members’ desire to cut Medicaid funding.
In a letter that opposed certain aspects of the “Congressional Republican agenda,” the White House criticized Republicans’ previous plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, cut Medicaid spending and — in general — keep health care on the chopping block for budget cuts.
“Virtually every Republican budget or fiscal plan over the last decade has included repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and deep cuts to Medicaid,” the White House wrote in its letter. “That would mean: higher health care costs for tens of millions of Americans, ending critical protections for people with pre-existing conditions, millions of people losing health coverage and threats to health care for seniors and people with disabilities — including growing home care waiting lists and worse nursing home care.”
The White House used home care as one of the main sticking points while advocating for the ACA and additional Medicaid spending.
The number of people on home care wait lists has dropped by 20% since 2018, according to the White House.
That progress would likely be reversed under a block grant or a “per-capita cap,” because there would be fewer dollars available for home care services, this administration would argue.
“Over 7 million seniors and people with disabilities could receive worse home care, with ballooning wait lists for those still in need,” the White House wrote. “Faced with large federal funding cuts, states would almost certainly ration care. That would likely mean wait lists for home care in the 13 states and D.C. that don’t currently have them, and skyrocketing wait lists in 37 states that do.”
In an email to Home Health Care News, Bill Dombi — president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) — said it was encouraging that the President is expressing concerns about the stability of Medicaid home- and community-based services.
“With the diminishing federal financial support coming from the 2021 American Rescue Plan, states are facing difficult choices for the future of Medicaid,” Dombi said. “With the added HCBS support, states have been able to increase payment rates and compensation of caregivers. Further support is needed if the state programs are to remain stable.”
Yet, Dombi added that even greater support is required to impact the service waitlists that affect hundreds of thousands of individuals needing Medicaid-based home care.
Support from both sides of the aisle will be needed to address those issues, Dombi said.
Vicki Hoak, CEO of Home Care Association of America (HCAOA), also told HHCN in an email that the association is grateful for Biden’s interest in making sure seniors and people with disabilities can remain in their own homes and communities, living as independently as possible.
“We look forward to learning more about the Republicans’ plan and remain optimistic that consensus can be reached,” Hoak said. “HCAOA respects the challenging and valuable work that our country’s leaders do to best manage and care for our nation. Remaining economically viable as a nation with a balanced budget is important. Yet, maintaining access to health care and invaluable care and support – like home care – for our growing senior population is also critical.”
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