INFOGRAPHIC: Home Health Patients versus All Medicare Beneficiaries
While all Medicare beneficiaries are in need of healthcare services, home healthcare beneficiaries are typically more vulnerable than the average Medicare patient. They are older, more likely to live alone, have fewer financial resources, and suffer from more chronic health conditions. In recent years, the home health benefit has been repeatedly hit with spending…
Caring For Our Fellow Americans
Tomorrow is the 4th of July, a day to celebrate democracy, community, and to recognize the efforts of those that serve at home and abroad. But Independence Day also allows for reflection on the meaning of patriotism. A patriot understands the importance of both country and community, and cares deeply for the welfare of others….
Congress Repealed the Medicare Home Health Copayment Because It Increased Costs. So Why Are They Considering It Again?
In 1972, Congress passed an amendment repealing a 20-percent copayment to beneficiaries who received home healthcare under Part B citing copayments as “a financial burden to many elderly persons living on marginal incomes.” The coinsurance requirement lead to increased hospital costs and was found to discriminate against patients. Similarly, our nation’s 3.5 million Medicare…
Letter to President Obama: Support Program Integrity Reform Instead of Across-the-Board Cuts and Higher Costs for Seniors
The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare supports program integrity reforms in the Medicare program specifically targeting fraud and abuse to prevent these behaviors before they can occur. As a member of the Fight Fraud First! coalition, the Partnership is working with others to ask policy makers to make every effort to eliminate waste, fraud…
CMMI Director Touts Value of Home Health
In a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee last week, CMS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Director, Dr. Richard Gilfillan, was the sole witness at a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing on ways to reform Medicare and Medicaid. In his written testimony and during the hearing, Dr. Gilfillan sited the value of home…
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Focuses on Home Health
Last month, the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (CCJM) partnered with the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation to release a supplement to the CCJM, which examined the critical role home health has in the nation’s healthcare delivery system. Leading medical experts and home health professionals presented outcomes from innovative approaches to home health…
More Home Health Patients Facing Greater Healthcare Challenges
According to the U.S. Department for Health & Human Services’ National Center for Health Statistics, an estimated 27 million people will need some type of long-term care by 2050. Of those 27 million, the majority will receive long-term care in the community. Skilled home healthcare is a leading provider of formal, community-based care. The…
Fight Fraud First! to Protect Medicare and Seniors
Who is Fight Fraud First! Fight Fraud First! is a collaborative effort among advocates, seniors, persons with disabilities, military veterans, and minority communities. The coalition advocates that every effort should be taken to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from the Medicare and Medicaid programs before any cuts are made to beneficiaries who rely on…
Bipartisan Group of Senators Call for Stronger Efforts to Fight Fraud
In a press statement last week, Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) called for Medicare program integrity improvements. Their statement was in response to a recent report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which calls for more aggressive efforts to stop Medicare fraud and abuse…
American Action Forum Primer on VA Home Based Primary Care
By Doug Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum Two recent studies suggest that home healthcare should be given a close look in reforming Medicare. The American Action Forum recently released a paper by Emily Egan entitled, “VA Home Based Primary Care Program: A Primer and Lessons for Medicare.” The goal of the primer was to…