Florida Lawmakers Cosponsor Federal Legislation to Protect the Medicare Home Health Benefit
Florida Lawmakers Cosponsor Federal Legislation to Protect the Medicare Home Health Benefit
HCAF and home care industry advocates from across the nation were in Washington, D.C., this week to support federal legislation to advance the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
During the fly-in, advocates met with over a dozen members of Florida's congressional delegation and secured three additional cosponsors to critical Medicare-focused legislation, the Preserving Access to Home Health Act (S.4605/H.R.8581). Introduced in the House of Representatives by Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Longboat Key), the bill would effectively freeze home health payment cuts as proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in its 2023 proposal.
HCAF is grateful for the support of Congressman Buchanan and the newest cosponsors, Congressman John Rutherford (R-Jacksonville), Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Miami), and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-Palm Harbor).
Advocates also pushed for support for the Better Care Better Jobs Act (S.2210/H.R.4131), which improves access to Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). The bill would achieve this through providing funding to state Medicaid programs to ready themselves for the enhanced investment, then through a 10% increase to the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP) specifically for Medicaid HCBS. It is supported by nearly half of Congress, including five members of the Florida delegation: Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton), Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-West Palm Beach), Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-Tampa), Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Miami), and Congressman Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee).
Even if you couldn't make it to Washington, D.C., you can still make your voice heard by taking action virtually! Please contact your Senators and Representatives and urge their support of this legislation.
It's a quick and easy process, and your voice matters. Please encourage your colleagues to take action, too. Thank you!