The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) commends Vice President Harris for recognizing the critical need to expand Medicare home health coverage and supports Vice President Harris' proposals to expand and improve Medicare coverage. We echo the Medicare Advocacy Center's strong support for the call. Implement existing Medicare home care benefits. DREDF emphasizes that building on Medicare's currently limited coverage of home health care and rehabilitation can strengthen not only the health care system as a whole, but also families with disabilities and long-term care needs.
According to an analysis by the AARP Public Policy Institute, the median annual cost of care for most long-term services and supports now exceeds both a senior's assets and median household income. For people with disabilities and older adults, access to reliable and affordable home care is essential, not optional.
Medicare traditionally does not cover long-term care, but it does provide short-term home health services and rehabilitation. However, current payment and administrative rules encourage agencies to prioritize expensive, short-term medical services over long-term, less expensive home care that allows people to stay safely and well in their own homes. . This leaves too many people without essential support, forcing them into institutional care or having to overcome their care needs alone, often with devastating consequences. Masu.
DREDF Policy Director Sylvia Yee said, “We need to not only expand Medicare home care coverage, but also create a system that ensures all eligible people receive the long-term care they need and deserve. “We have a unique opportunity to build.” ”
What you can do now
Ensuring home health workers can provide services already covered by Medicareprevent premature discontinuation of treatment.
Expand Medicare home care to cover long-term needs so people don't end up in nursing homes just because they need help at home.
get involved The disability community, expertise advocates, and other key stakeholders such as paid and unpaid care providers when planning new Medicare benefits to ensure that they actually meet the real needs of people with disabilities and older adults Collaborate to develop various home health policies.
Thank you, Vice President Harris, for bringing this issue to the forefront. DREDF stands ready to help develop policies that reflect the realities of people with disabilities, older adults, and their families.
