Tag: IHSS

Presidential Candidate Proposes Expanding Medicare to Cover In-Home Care

By Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc & UCP California Collaboration

In the competing interests of policies and platforms in the presidential race, long-term care isn’t always a top issue. Last week, however, Vice-President Kamala Harris made a major announcement proposing that Medicare pay for in-home care for seniors. Currently, long-term in-home care, such as California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), is only available for individuals who qualify for Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California) due to disability or income near the poverty level. Harris promised that, if elected in November, she will seek to expand Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older Americans, so that it covers long-term care and includes services like in-home aides.

For older Californians, including aging caregivers of adult family members with disabilities, the cost of long-term care has been an incredible financial burden, often making it impossible to continue receiving in-home care when it is needed most. This challenge can often force older individuals into facility-based settings, such as nursing facilities or assisted living, which can separate the caregiver from their community, support system, and their children if they are the primary caregiver. The proposal to expand Medicare to pay for in-home care would relieve that uncertainty and burden and would essentially create a publicly funded long-term care insurance program.

In 2023, The Arc of California surveyed its stakeholders in the disability community, which revealed “support for aging caregivers” as the number one priority for policy changes. We listened to our community, and in response, developed a Caring Futures and Futuros y Esperanza. This program provides caregivers of an adult family member with developmental disabilities with future planning classes, resources and a supportive community throughout California.

The Arc of California supports the prioritization of long-term services and supports for caregivers regardless of candidate or political party.

The Arc of California Supports Increased Medi-Cal Rates for In-Home Private Duty Nurses

Families in California have long struggled to get nursing care at home for medically fragile children. Even after doctors have deemed home care necessary to keep their kids healthy and safe, many Californians have been unable to secure enough nurses to fill their allocated hours.

The goal of the Medi-Cal Home and Community Based Services program, especially Private Duty Nursing (PDN) services, is to keep medically fragile Californians, particularly our children, in their homes — the setting that promotes their highest quality of life, allowing them the opportunity to be with their families and engage in their communities — and out of more expensive institutional settings.

The Arc of California is proud to join a broad coalition that is pushing this year for a 40% Medi-Cal rate increase to help attract and retain nurses who provide home healthcare to pediatric patients.

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