​Choose Home Care Act Introduced in House

Choose Home Care Act Introduced in House

10/20/2021

The Choose Home Care Act of 2021 (HR 5514) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 8 by Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and James Comer (R-Kentucky). This bipartisan legislation supports in-home care alternatives to skilled nursing facilities. The bill would allow for patients receiving skilled nursing or rehabilitation services from their home health provider to also receive meals, non-emergency transportation, remote patient monitoring, and more.

The Act was introduced in the Senate (S.2562) in July by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and Todd Young (R-Indiana).

HCAOA supports this initiative, and encourages members to contact their senators and representatives to urge support for this important bill. Click here to send a pre-written message to your lawmakers.

8 Comments

Elizabeth Bigham link

10/20/2021 09:00:34 am

We need help with Mileage reimbursement ! I pay my caregivers over 1000.00 in mileage reimburse EACH TWO WEEK PAY -- and 50% of that is the miles we're giving away for our medicaid clients, who need trips to grocery stores (they don't have cars!) NO ONE is paying me back for all of this. It's a VERY UNFAIR COST TO US. Do anything to help us out in this area?

Thomas Smith I agree with Elizabeth's assessment. Reimbursement for Medicaid clients and also food vouchers, link

10/20/2021 11:39:38 am

See comments above,

Ron Clark, MD

10/20/2021 10:57:25 am

This potentially could put all non-medicare certified vendors out of business and simply transfer my business to home healthcare entities that provide skilled services. Not quite sure why HCAOA is behind this legislation with such limited documentation.

Peter Lombardi, PT link

10/20/2021 12:02:17 pm

Great Comment Dr. Clark! I look forward to reading a response by HCAOA.

Nick Paul link

10/20/2021 12:44:06 pm

Is the HCAOA going to do a webinar concerning the in-and-outs of this legislation? Hard to support a legislation when I don't know what impact it has on private home care agencies. I looks great on paper though! But the devil is in the details.

Jackie Fox link

10/20/2021 11:52:06 pm

How can this be good for the private pay home health companies? If this service is going to be offered and paid for by Medicare, it will basically put private duty out of business.

Ashvin Amin link

10/27/2021 12:15:04 pm

So if this bill passes as briefly written above in article, it basically puts all non-medical home care agencies out of business. Would HCAOA comment on why they are in support of such legislation?

Home Care Association of America

10/27/2021 07:41:31 pm

Hi everyone...thanks for the comments. The Choose Home Care bill calls for a new benefit under Medicare that not only includes 30 more days of home health following a hospital stay, but also 360 hours of personal care.

Home health leaders have said they plan to partner with personal care agencies to provide those personal care hours. Home health agencies typically don’t have the capacity - with only a few home health aides - to deliver this type of continuous care. Keep in mind that Medicare-certified agencies’ model of care is brief and intermittent.

Not only does this legislation provide a growth opportunity for personal care agencies, it’s also recognition that health care must include services like assistance with activities of daily living, meal prep, grooming and transportation.

We look forward to continued discussion about this important legislation.