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Home Health Care, Medicare, and Health Reform

Senior citizens may wonder how the Affordable Care Act (more commonly known as Health Care Reform) affects their access to in-home health care. The good news is that several portions of the 1,200-page bill provide benefits and programs that may help seniors stay in their homes longer by providing benefits and incentives for home health care.

'Money Follows the Person' Program

The Affordable Care Act provides additional funding for state grants meant to help transition Medicaid-enrolled nursing home residents back into their communities. The Program is slated to provide benefits to assist in:

• Services to help people based on their individual needs
• Information and tools available to assist seniors and caregivers in planning discharge to the community after hospitalization
• Informing patients and caregivers and providing access to the many devices available to assist people in living independently

Expanded Medicaid Coverage

States will be able to elect to provide home and community-based services and support to Medicaid beneficiaries with additional Federal funding. Naysayers claim the additional funding will not even cover the costs of caring for newly enrolled individuals due to the expanded coverage of Medicaid.

Independence at Home Medical Practice Program

The Affordable Care Act also creates a new demonstration program to test a payment incentive and 'service delivery model' that uses doctors and nurse practitioners to direct home-based primary care teams to reduce costs and help keep patients in their home. The program aims to:

• Reduce preventable hospitalizations
• Prevent hospital readmissions
• Reduce emergency room visits
• Improve health outcomes for beneficiaries with chronic illnesses
• Improve efficiency by reducing duplicate diagnostic and laboratory tests

The Affordable Health Care Act includes over 30 pilot programs and demonstration projects. Obviously, it could turn into a confusing quagmire for anyone trying to make sense of it. One thing you should know: You shouldn't expect these programs to provide benefits to you, as a senior, immediately. Most of the changes in the Affordable Health Care Act are expected to roll out in 2014.