Tag: Better Care Better Jobs Act

Support the Better Care Better Jobs Act

Just a few clicks & support the Better Care Better Jobs Act! President Biden has proposed a significant investment into the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Program with the goals of improving access to care in the home and addressing workforce challenges. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) have carried out…

Support the Better Care Better Jobs Act

President Biden has proposed a significant investment into the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Program with the goals of improving access to care in the home and addressing workforce challenges. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) have carried out this proposal in legislative form with the Better Care Better Jobs Act.

This legislation takes several steps to improve Medicaid HCBS, first through providing funding to state Medicaid programs to ready themselves for the enhanced investment, then through a 10% increase to the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP) specifically for Medicaid HCBS.

In order to qualify for the enhanced 10% FMAP states would be required to provide coverage for personal care services; expand supports for family caregivers; adopt programs that help people navigate enrollment and eligibility; expand access to behavioral health care; improve coordination with housing, transportation, and employment supports; and develop or improve programs to allow working people with disabilities to access HCBS.

In addition, the bill would strengthen and expand the HCBS workforce by addressing HCBS payment rates to promote recruitment and retention of direct care workers; regularly updating HCBS payment rates with public input; passing rate increases through to direct care workers to increase wages; and updating and developing training opportunities for this workforce as well as family caregivers.

Lastly, the legislation would permanently authorize protections against impoverishment for individuals whose spouses are receiving Medicaid HCBS and make the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration permanent.

NAHC to White House: FY2024 Needs Big Investment in Medicaid HCBS

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has written to the Biden administration to recommend that the President’s FY 2024 budget request include at least $300 billion to support Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). This budget request reflects the CBO’s preliminary estimate associated with the Better Care Better Jobs Act (S. 2210/H.R.…

Our Veterans Deserve the Highest Quality Care in the Home

Tomorrow, on November 11, the United States honors its veterans with Veterans Day, a national holiday. However, making sure our veterans receive the care and recognition they have earned should involve a lot more than a federal holiday in the second week of November. Those who have made great sacrifices deserve proper care when they…

Our Veterans Deserve the Highest Quality Hospice

On November 11 the United States honors its veterans with Veterans Day, a national holiday. However, making sure our veterans receive the care and recognition they have earned should involve a lot more than a federal holiday in the second week of November. Those who have made great sacrifices deserve proper care when they come home, particularly if they suffer from debilitating health issues, whether in their senior years or earlier in their lives

Among the common maladies afflicting our veterans are:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Depression and other mental health issues
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Musculoskeletal injuries and pain
  • Infectious disease;
  • Chemical exposure;
  • Noise and vibration exposure/sensitivity.

Tragically, an estimated 18 to 22 American vets commit suicide daily. No American should find that statistic tolerable. Our veterans deserve the highest quality health care and that includes care in the home.

The Veterans Administration’s long-term care services include:

  • 24/7 nursing and medical care;
  • Physical therapy;
  • Help with daily tasks (like bathing, dressing, making meals, and taking medicine);
  • Comfort care and help with managing pain;
  • Support for caregivers who may need skilled help or a break so they can work, travel, or run errands.

Veterans can get this care in many different settings — some run by VA and others run by state or community organizations that the VA inspect and approve.

There are three pieces of important legislation before Congress right now that would benefit millions of Americans, including our veterans. They are:

  • Credit for Caring Act – For anyone caring for an elderly or disabled veteran, this legislation would provide a tax credit of up to $5,000 for expenses such as respite care, home modifications, hiring home care aides and other caregiving professionals to provide care and services, and assistive technology.
  • Choose Home Act – This legislation supports patients, such as our veterans, to leave the hospital and recover at home with a mix of expanded skilled nursing, therapy, personal care, telehealth services and more. In this way, eligible patients can choose to recover at home in a safe home environment with appropriate and sufficient care tailored to meet their individual needs.
  • Better Care Better Jobs Act – This legislation would expand access to home care for our elderly and disabled veterans and all Americans by making a significant investment into the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Program with the goals of improving access to care in the home and addressing workforce challenges.

We hope you will follow the links above to our Advocacy Center and send a quick and easy message to your elected representatives about supporting these bills. It takes literally seconds and just a few clicks of your time.

Quality care in the home is the best health care and we owe our veterans the very best. Let’s all do our part to make it happen.

Private Duty Leaders Fighting for Home Care

  • GO HERE to support the Better Care Better Jobs Act

On Wednesday, September 14, industry leaders from around the country joined NAHC staff in Washington, D.C. to urge Congress to support legislation that would, among other things, permanently increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) by 10% for Home-and Community-Based Services (HCBS) through Medicaid programs. The Better Care Better Jobs Act (S. 2210 / HR 4131) would further address patient and caregiver challenges by:

  • Expanding HCBS services to include personal care, family supports, and respite;
  • Annually address and update payment rates for HCBS, giving the public the opportunity for input;
  • Develop workforce training opportunities;
  • Make permanent the Money Follows the Person program

Recent data shows there are nearly five million Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in HCBS programs, with approximately 820,000 individuals on waitlists. NAHC firmly supports a commitment from Congress to invest in HCBS in order for providers to begin to meet the growing demand for quality care in the home.

Click here to contact your elected officials and ask them to support the Better Care Better Jobs Act now!

The Better Care Better Job Act Deserves Your Support

GO HERE to support the Better Care Better Jobs Act with just a few clicks of your mouse Home care advocates have been meeting with members of Congress this week to ask for their support for the Better Care Better Jobs Act and it is important that home care professionals who did not make the…

Let’s Get the Preserving Home Health Act Across the Finish Line!

Add your voice to ours! GO HERE to tell your elected representatives to support this legislation There is real momentum in the U.S. Congress for the Preserving Home Health Act of 2022, which is picking up supporters in both chambers.  In the Senate, we have added Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to the…

Proof that Your Advocacy Works!

Advocacy is some of the most important work we do at NAHC and because we know how vital it is, we have asked you to become advocates yourselves. Become advocates for your organizations, your employees, your patients, and for the cause of centering American health care in the place where it belongs, the home. If…

Fight for Home Health Care & Hospice in DC!

Wednesday, September 14 REGISTER (required) Today is the last day to sign up (registration above) to join NAHC and your fellow home care and hospice professionals who will be on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, September 14th, to advocate to Congress for some of the biggest issues facing the industry right now. Home health providers are facing…