Tag: respite care

House of Reps Votes to Fund Key Home Care and Hospice Programs

The House of Representatives completed their work on Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), allocating $96 billion to HHS for FY21. This funding is separate from the Medicare and Medicaid programs as those are considered mandatory spending and not subject to the annual appropriations process. Following is a summary…

Senators Introduce Hospice Respite Relief Legislation to Ease Access during Pandemic

On August 4, 2020, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W) introduced the COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020 (S. 4423), designed to establish additional flexibilities related to delivery of respite care services during public health emergencies (PHEs) such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the legislation provides the Secretary of…

House Approps Cmte Approves New Funding for Home Care Services

The House of Representatives’ Appropriations Commttee approved $96 billion in discretionary federal spending for fiscal year 2021, including key funds for home and community-based services, family caregiving, and respite care. The approved funds relevant to care in the home include: Home and Community Based Services: $400 million ($10 million increase from FY2020) – This program…

House Approves Labor-HHS Spending Blueprint for FY2020

Last week the House of Representatives approved legislation that provides discretionary funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In total, H.R. 2740 would dole out a combined $192 billion for the Departments of Labor, HHS, and Education, and their related agencies. Every year in the appropriations process specific funding levels need to…

Bill to Create Long-Term Care Insurance Medicare Benefit Introduced in Congress

A high-ranking Democrat has introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to establish a long-term care insurance benefit under Medicare The bill from Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6), Ranking Member of the Medicare Long-Term Care Services and Supports Act , would make available funding on a self-directed approach for beneficiaries to purchase goods and services that…