NAHC Report Article
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Reps. Schwartz and Walden Re-Introduce Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act
NAHC Urges Congressional Members to Co-Sponsor the Legislation
Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Greg Walden (R-OR) have re-introduced the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (H.R. 2267) which would allow nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants to order home health services under Medicare in accordance with state law. Schwartz has introduced this bill in the last two Congresses. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) introduced the Senate companion bill (S.227) earlier this year (NAHC Report, 02/02/2011).
“We have a responsibility to provide America’s seniors with high quality health care, and a key part of that is ensuring they have timely access to home health care services,” Schwartz said in a press release about the importance of this legislation. “These valued health care professionals play a central role in the delivery of primary care, particularly in medically underserved areas, and are essential to the coordination of team-based care.”
“This bill will reduce unnecessary and duplicative burdens on providers and seniors in need of home health services,” Walden added. “Particularly in rural areas like central, southern, and eastern Oregon where physicians are scarce, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse-midwives are essential components of the health care delivery system. Not only are they serving on the front lines of primary care, but also in many areas they are the only option readily available.”
Val J. Halamandaris, president of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) said the bill would ensure that important care to Medicare beneficiaries is not interrupted.
“This legislation is long overdue and welcome news for thousands of nurses who have had expanded roles in the care of Medicare patients, but who have had their hands tied by CMS in their ability to certify home health services for patients," Halamandaris said.
Schwartz and Walden’s bipartisan bill has 26 original cosponsors: Reps. Lou Barletta (R-PA), Charles Bass (R-NH), Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Robert Brady (D-PA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Ben Chandler (D-KY), David Cicilline (D-RI), Mike Coffman (R-CO), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Walter Jones (R-NC), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), James Langevin (D-RI), Tom Latham (R-IA), Steven LaTourette (R-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Lee Terry (R-NE), Mike Thompson (D-CA) and David Wu (D-OR).
Schwartz and Walden will seek additional co-sponsors among fellow House members. The National Association for Homecare & Hospice (NAHC) is helping gather support for passage of this legislation. NAHC is joined by AARP, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, American Nurses Association, American College of Nurse Midwives, American College of Nurse Practitioners, American Academy of Nurse Practitioner, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties in its efforts.
You can help by reaching out to your legislators’ offices and ask your representative and senators to cosponsor the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act.
