February 19, 2019
Bipartisan Bill Will Protect Access to Home Health
Now that the 116th Congress has officially commenced, the Partnership looks forward to working with lawmakers to advance home healthcare reforms recently introduced by bipartisan group of Senators.
Recognizing home health is a bipartisan issue that benefits millions of American seniors, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), John Kennedy (R-LA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Doug Jones (D-AL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the legislation to further strengthen home health reforms.
The bill, S. 433, is designed to refine home health payment to ensure behavioral-based payment adjustments are rooted in evidence and observed data. This reform is needed because the recently finalized Patient Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) will make payment adjustments based solely on presumed behaviors.
It is estimated the PDGM payment structure – scheduled for implementation in 2020 – could result in a 6.42% payment reduction in the first year alone – equaling an estimated $1 billion. Without the bipartisan reform, home health providers will face uncertainty and instability—ultimately, threatening consistent access to care for Medicare seniors in need of home health.
In introducing the home health legislation, Senator Susan Collins said the bill “would help millions of our most vulnerable Americans receive the care they need exactly where they want to be – in the comfort, privacy, and security of their homes.”
I introduced two bills this week to strengthen home health services.
These bills would help millions of our most vulnerable Americans receive the care they need exactly where they want to be – in the comfort, privacy, & security of their homes. pic.twitter.com/s5AT7nWCxl
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) February 12, 2019