President Donald Trump signed the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 into law Wednesday. By doing so, the president reauthorized the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA provides funding for services to thousands of agencies and organizations to help seniors maintain dignity and keep them out of nursing homes and hospitals. Originally enacted in 1965, […]
Category: Legislation
Political leaders agreed to one of the most expensive legislative packages in the history of Congress on Wednesday, finalizing the details of a roughly $2 trillion stimulus bill. While the record-breaking package has far-reaching implications for the overall economy, it also reportedly includes specific language that could trigger significant change throughout the home-based care landscape […]
In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, non-medical home care providers — often called the “eyes and ears in the home” — are solidifying their position as a part of the larger health care continuum. Over the past few decades, the health care sector has seen SARS, H1N1 and a number of other outbreaks […]
Home care providers waiting to see how they’ll be affected by new federally mandated paid sick leave policies tied to the COVID-19 emergency will likely have to wait a little longer. On Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) into law, which — broadly — gives workers guaranteed paid […]
As the national concern over COVID-19 — the coronavirus — continues to grow, U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require all employers to provide paid sick leave to workers. If passed, the bills would likely place a bigger squeeze on the country’s home-based care providers, which often operate on razor-thin profit margins. On Friday, […]
On Thursday, the Senate approved a bill that will provide $8.3 billion in emergency funds to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus. Apart from funding, the bill made major changes to telehealth statutes, possibly allowing home-based care providers to both rely heavier on telehealth tools and be properly reimbursed for […]
Under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), 80% of home health agencies are experiencing a difference in reimbursement compared to the old Prospective Payment System (PPS). Of those, the vast majority — 82% — are experiencing a decrease in reimbursement. That’s according to a recent survey of 127 home health agencies conducted by information technology firm […]
The shutdown of a major nonprofit home care provider in one state has motivated lawmakers to seek emergency action to the tune of $8.5 million. The move is a reminder of how important home-based care has become for state policymakers. Maine State Senator Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, recently announced plans to introduce emergency legislation that, […]
The much anticipated launch of the Patient-Driven Grouping Model (PDGM) has come and gone. Nearly two months later, one of the biggest early storylines is the way it has affected therapy visits and therapists themselves. PDGM’s therapy impact appears to — at the very least — be manifesting itself anecdotally in the form of layoffs, […]
U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) is sponsoring a resolution to once again amplify aging-related issues through the Permanent Select Committee on Aging. The committee would aim to better address various issues that affect seniors, such as housing, long-term care and poverty, among others. A lot of the panel’s focus on its first near 20-year run […]
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