The home health community is seeking support for legislation to curb dire cuts to Medicare home healthcare services. The Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023 (S.2137/H.R. 5159), introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Terri Sewell (AL-7) and Adrian Smith (NE-3), would safeguard access to essential home-based, clinically advanced healthcare services for America’s older adults and people living with disabilities by preventing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing devastating cuts. Passage of this legislation is imperative to ensure the continued functioning of the Medicare Home Health Program.

This critical legislation would:

• Stop CMS from imposing certain permanent and temporary payment cuts. More specifically, the bill would repeal CMS’s authority to make these permanent and temporary payment cuts based on its misguided budget neutrality methodology.

• Instructs MedPAC to analyze the Medicare Home Health Program. Under current law, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is allowed to review the effect of Medicare payment policies on the delivery of healthcare services outside of Medicare. The bill would require MedPAC to report on aggregate trends under Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and other payers, and consider the impact of all payers on access to care for the Medicare population. It also updates the Commission’s Medicare home health cost reports to include data on visit utilization and total payments by program.

Of course, when advocating for home health with your Members of Congress, it is important to ensure your message is both compelling and clearly presented. Thankfully, our national partner, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC), has made connecting with your elected representatives as easy as a few clicks on your computer or mobile device.

Simply CLICK HERE to contact your federal lawmakers on the Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023. All you need to do is fill in your name and contact information and hit SEND.