Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), a staunch friend of the elderly and disabled, has unveiled legislation that would provide a 10% increase to the federal share (FMAP) of home and community-based services (HCBS) for two years. The legislation would essentially extend the HCBS funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and provide states with an additional two years of funding.

 

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded telehealth benefits to limit community spread and keep vulnerable patients in their homes while maintaining access to care. In April 2020, CMS revised Medicare regulations on an interim basis to retroactively allow home health agencies (HHAs) to use telehealth services beginning March 1, 2020. In November 2020, CMS finalized changes to those regulations to permanently allow home health services to be furnished via telehealth. While Medicare makes payments for some types of telehealth services, the final regulations prohibit payments for home health services furnished via telehealth. At the start of our audit, CMS did not require HHAs to report telehealth services on Medicare claims. Therefore, oversight agencies lacked the ability to effectively identify and monitor those services.

 

On Wednesday, Oct. 4, four members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to CMS and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expressing their concerns with a CMS proposed design for the hospice special focus program (SFP), details of which were laid out in the CY2024 Home Health proposed payment rule. The lawmakers’ letter echoes the concerns of NAHC and the broader hospice community, closely aligning with the arguments and recommendations NAHC shared with CMS earlier this summer.

 

For the third year in a row, the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home engaged members via Regional Meetings.  Membership and Education Director Courtney Verissimo and Pres/CEO Tracy Wodatch connected with members across the state at five different locations: Mozaic Home Care and Hospice in Bridgeport, Nurses at Home in Avon, Visiting Nurse & Health Services of CT in Vernon, AccentCare in Middlebury, and VNA Southeastern CT in Waterford. 
 
The regional meetings were a great opportunity to share the support for our membership pillars: Get Connected, Be Informed and Create Change.  Areas covered included our many membership benefits through Committee, SIGs, listservs, educational offerings, legislative and grassroots advocacy and business solutions and discounts to promote long-term viability and sustainability.
 
Thank you to all who attended and to the agencies who hosted!