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NAHC voices opposition to copayments for home health services
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) last week voiced strong opposition to copayments on home health services included in President Obama’s proposed budget.



“Essential home health services are at risk,” Val J. Halamandaris, president of NAHC, said in a prepared release. “The Medicare homecare benefit, only $17 billion in 2009, has been cut by $77 billion over the next 10 years. As a result of these cuts, 53 percent of all Medicare participating agencies will be under water in 2012—that is, paid less than their costs by Medicare. Congress should therefore resist making additional cuts in homecare for any reason.”



With 78 million baby boomers reaching their 65th birthday at the rate of 10,000 per day for the next 19 years, the need for home health services will only increase, the NAHC reported. “Home health keeps families together and is overwhelmingly what patients prefer,” the NAHC said. “It is far more cost effective for Medicare than institutional options.”