Congress should pass legislation blocking proposed Medicare cuts | Opinion

Home healthcare is fundamental in helping seniors and those with disabilities live safely at home with comfort, independence, and dignity. That is the vision my father, Mark Baiada, had when he founded BAYADA Home Health Care back in 1975. It is in that same spirit that we have grown from those humble beginnings to become a central part of older Delawareans’ healthcare. Currently, BAYADA employs 1,330 professional caregivers across Delaware who care for more than 2,000 Delawareans where they feel most comfortable and safe — in their own homes.

But, today, the home healthcare community here in Delaware and nationwide is facing massive challenges. The economic impact of the pandemic on the healthcare system, along with surging inflation and the increasing costs of labor, fuel, and medical supplies, have all combined to create a perfect storm that is intensifying an already dire home health workforce shortage. Now, proposed cuts by Medicare pose entirely new threats to home health providers and patients.

Earlier this summer, Medicare proposed a permanent 7.69% cut for home health services, which would result in $1.33 billion worth of cuts — including $3.1 million here in Delaware — in 2023 alone. As if that isn’t damaging enough, Medicare is also pushing for $2 billion worth of cuts as a so-called clawback for services already provided during the height of the pandemic from 2020-2021 and another $1 billion clawback for services provided this year. Altogether over the next decade, these cuts would slash $18 billion from home healthcare, dealing a devastating blow to home health agencies throughout Delaware and across the country. Most importantly, the patients and families we serve may be at risk of decreased access due to Medicare’s shortsighted decision.

Importantly, Medicare home health recipients represent a significantly more vulnerable patient population than those enrolled in Medicare overall. Data shows that over 92% of home health users live with at least three chronic health conditions or more, as compared to roughly 27% of all Medicare beneficiaries in our state. For chronically ill patients and their families, at-home care provides an extra layer of safety and security that increases peace of mind and improves patient outcomes.

If Medicare moves forward with these proposed cuts to home health services as planned, it could undermine vital access to care for these critically at-risk patients and exacerbate the sweeping challenges facing home health agencies and providers. Fortunately, there is growing bipartisan support for legislation in Congress to prevent or at the very least delay these cuts.

The Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2022 — bipartisan legislation introduced in both the House and the Senate — would prevent Medicare from making any cuts to home health services until at least 2026. Not only would this provide greater flexibility for home health organizations and caregivers to address the challenges we face today, but it would also give Medicare more time to review and reconsider its budgeting strategy to ensure payments reflect the true value of home healthcare.

At BAYADA, we will continue to do everything possible to connect our Medicare home health patients with the critical services and care they have come to expect. We are not alone in these efforts, either. Across the state, there are more than a dozen home health agencies working to provide at-home services, care, and support for more than 14,000 Delawareans. Just like our organization, each one of these agencies and the patients they serve would be hurt by Medicare’s proposed cuts.

Ninety-four percent of Medicare beneficiaries say they would prefer to receive post-hospital care from their own homes rather than in a nursing center, hospital, or other medical facilities, according to a new survey. Delaware’s lawmakers —Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Tom Carper and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester — should listen to the voices of their constituents and help protect home healthcare by passing the Preserving Access to Home Health Act as swiftly as possible.

David L. Baiada is the CEO of BAYADA Home Health Care, a not-for-profit home health care provider, with over 29,000 professionals serving over 150,000 adult and pediatric clients annually from more than 390 locations globally.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware needs Congress to block proposed cuts to Medicare