As the 118th Congress gets underway, lawmakers have already introduced federal legislation that will impact the Medicare and Medicaid home health provider community.

On January 26, Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) reintroduced the Better Care Better Jobs Act (S.100). This bill would provide for permanent enhanced federal funding to states that expand and strengthen Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) for aging adults and people with disabilities, while also increasing compensation for and growing the direct care workforce. This investment would enable states to build on the work started with the temporary American Rescue Plan Act funding and begin to address the unmet need in the current home-based care system that forces older adults into institutions and financially strains so many families, especially those from marginalized communities. Click here to read a fact sheet on the legislation.

On January 9, Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced the Permanent Telehealth from Home Act (H.R.134), which permanently eliminates the originating site and geographic limitations for using telehealth, which will help patients continue to be able to receive care through telehealth services regardless of the location of the provider or the patient.

HCAF monitors federal and state legislation year-round. To view current legislation, click here.