FEDERAL ISSUES
Crippled by funding cuts, historic inflation, government red tape, and an unprecedented COVID-19 health crisis, American families across the country who rely on home care and hospice services are being left behind by our federal lawmakers. Congress must act, protecting patients and recognizing the vital work home care nurses, therapists, aides and the entire industry provides, so millions of Americans can continue receiving the comfortable, compassionate care they deserve.
ISSUES
FUNDING
For many Americans, home health is the only option to meet their care needs, and a strong home care and hospice industry is vital to supporting our healthcare system as a whole. Unfortunately, Medicare rate reductions are threatening this care, and will end up costing American taxpayers even more.
Home health is much more cost-effective for long-term care, saving Medicare billions and making the industry a valuable piece of the healthcare puzzle for reducing rising health care costs.
To support home care and hospice for every American family who needs it, TAHCH urges federal leaders to:
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Ensure adequate reimbursement rates for Medicare home health services and hospice.
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Support federal legislation, like the Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2022, that benefits the industry and its patients.
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Provide immediate relief to rural home health providers that are facing increased costs following the pandemic and historic inflation.
Tell your Representatives in Congress that the home care and hospice industry needs bold solutions to save the care millions of American families rely on.
REGULATORY BURDENS
Home care patients need access to care now, but with more regulatory hurdles and a healthcare industry that grows more challenging by the day, burdensome regulations can often impact accessibility to care.
Additional burdens for home health will further challenge an industry that has continued to overcome challenges in order to serve our patients’ needs. Now, home care and hospice providers need regulators to:
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Increase cost-saving telehealth options for patients, when appropriate.
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Simplify the claims auditing process, limiting administrative burdens and allowing providers to focus on patients.
Urge regulators to remove hurdles to care for home care patients in need.
WORKFORCE
Recently, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory highlighting the urgent need to address health worker burnout, affecting the entire healthcare industry and “placing our nation’s health at risk.” Home care agencies are especially feeling this strain, unable to compete with high-paying salaries and bonuses provided at hospitals.
In order to address this ongoing crisis, TAHCH needs federal lawmakers to:
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Support a well-qualified and reliable home care workforce.
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Prioritize home care workers as part of the larger health care landscape.
Let Congress know why home care workers need our support.
COVID-19 IMPACT
COVID-19 shifted the healthcare landscape, affecting every sector and worker across the industry. Today, home care and hospice are still struggling to meet demand, as skyrocketing inflation and workforce shortages echo through the industry, creating unsustainable environments for providers.
To address this ongoing crisis, TAHCH recommends:
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Creating an enhanced home health benefit that vulnerable patients can utilize as an alternative to institutional care.
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Extend pandemic-era Provider Relief Funds and PPP loans as the effects of COVID-19 continue on the health industry.
Tell federal leaders that home care and hospice providers still need support as we navigate the lingering pandemic.