Support for SAVE Medicare Home Health Act Mounts

Home health leaders today said that growing support for the Securing Access Via Excellence (SAVE) Medicare Home Health Act – introduced last week by Representatives Greg Walden (OR-2) and Tom Price (GA-6) – underscores the importance of legislation to repeal the 14 percent, four-year rebasing cuts instituted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on January 1.

The SAVE Medicare Home Health Act replaces the unprecedented rebasing cuts with hospital readmission reform to achieve savings by improving care for Medicare beneficiaries and reducing avoidable spending. In doing so, the bill would enable millions of seniors to remain in their homes, rather than institutional settings, achieving significant savings for the Medicare program.

Since the bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 15, the legislation has received increased support from lawmakers in Congress, including Representatives Shelley Moore Capito (WV-2), Trent Franks (AZ-8), Walter Jones (NC-3), Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large), Alan Nunnelee (MS-1), Todd Rokita (IN-4) and Tim Walberg (MI-7).

In addition to growing Congressional support, the SAVE Medicare Home Health Act is being lauded by national advocacy organizations representing seniors, rural communities, family caregivers and veterans.

• The Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) Founder and President Dan Weber: “Millions of mature Americans have been promised access to Medicare services – a promise the Obamacare home health cuts threaten to break. The SAVE Medicare Home Health Act puts a stop to these careless Medicare cuts, which is what we believe is best for senior citizens and mature Americans.”
• National Grange President Ed Luttrell: “We are especially aware of the unique needs of America’s rural communities and are encouraged by reforms like the SAVE Medicare Home Health Act that ensure healthcare is available to every person who needs it, no matter where they reside.”
• Caregiver Action Network CEO John Schall: “Caregiving, whether at the family level or professional level is a vital lifeline to patients recovering from a hospital stay, managing a chronic illness or undergoing rehabilitative therapy and the SAVE Medicare Home Health Act lays the foundation to ensure that this lifeline is always available to patients in need.”
• Veterans Health Council for the Vietnam Veterans of America Executive Director Tom Berger: “While we understand the need for Medicare program savings, threatening care for our nation’s seniors, many of whom are veterans, with deep cuts is not a viable solution. We applaud the SAVE Medicare Home Health Act because it replaces cuts with sustainable reforms that achieve savings without risking the healthcare of seniors.”

The legislation has already received an outpouring of support from home health advocates nationwide. Since the bill was filed, more than 10,000 letters have been sent to lawmakers respectfully urging their support to ensure continued access to clinically advanced, cost effective and patient preferred home healthcare.

The SAVE Medicare Home Health Act was introduced and is sponsored by members of House Leadership, Committee Chairs, a Committee Vice-Chair, Subcommittee Chairs, and members of the House Way & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees, including Representatives Charles Boustany, Shelley Moore Capito, Sean Duffy, Renee Ellmers, Trent Franks, Cory Gardner, Sam Graves, Walter Jones, Tom Latham, Cynthia Lummis, Alan Nunnelee, David McKinley, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Erik Paulsen, Tom Price, Todd Rokita, Glenn Thompson, Tim Walberg, Greg Walden and Don Young.