Last week a new bipartisan legislation was introduced before Congress to give Medicare patient more choice with home care. Entitled “The Choose Home Care Act of 2021”, the bill is designed to increase access to care at home by providing eligible Medicare Fee For Service beneficiaries with an additional care option following hospitalization. The proposal would expand home health services to qualifying Medicare Fee For Service patients following discharge from an acute hospital. The proposed expanded home care benefit is intended as a potential substitute for services currently provided in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), particularly for relatively low-acuity patients. To enable a safe transition from hospital to home, the expanded home care service would provide up to 24-hour care and medical supervision for as much as 360 hours over a 30-day episode.
The proposed bill was introduced by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), and co-sponsors include Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), James Lankford (R-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). The bill, endorsed by the AARP and supported by a long list of home-based care advocates, has gained momentum on Capitol Hill.