Protect home health for America’s seniors

Across the United States more than 3.5 million seniors rely on Medicare home health to remain in their homes and receive necessary skilled health care services, including nursing and therapy services.

However, a new Medicare payment model is threatening to risk access to care for our most vulnerable seniors. This new payment model would cut Medicare home health by 6.42 percent – equaling more than $1 billion in 2020 – based purely on assumptions about changes in provider behaviors under the new system.

Fortunately, our lawmakers in Congress are taking action to protect home health. The Home Health Payment Innovation Act (S. 433 & H.R. 2573) would fix problems with this new payment system to ensure seniors don’t lose access to the care they need and prefer. I urge our state’s senators and members of Congress to join in support of this vital legislation.

Amy Thomas

Carthage