A number of provisions affecting HUD programs specific to the LIHPRHA and public housing administrative reform were also included in “must-pass” transportation legislation, The FAST Act (PL 114-84), and represented legislation we actively supported in coalition with others.
A revised version of the Community Based Independence for Seniors Act was introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez D-CA, Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA), and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR).
The Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2015 (H.R. 1383) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) on March 16.
The measure, which LeadingAge strongly supports, was referred to both the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.
If passed, the legislation would:
- Expand Medicare beneficiaries care options by adding skilled nursing, rehabilitation and social services in a Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center.
- Allow patients who qualify for home health services or nursing homes under Medicare to use a Medicare Certified adult day services center as an option for care. It does not expand eligibility. It simply allows qualified patients to choose a Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center.
- Save Medicare dollars, cover more services.
- Not expand the number of people using Medicare services. Eligibility to use the services in a Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center is the same as the eligibility criteria for Medicare certified home health.
- Require Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center to meet the standards of nationally recognized accrediting agencies.
- Require Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center to comply with all applicable State and local building and fire codes.
- Ensure that Medicare and Medicaid integrity is maintained with high standards to prevent fraud and abuse.
- Require Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center services to be ordered by a physician who approves the plan of care.
Adult day health programs are already providing skilled care through Medicaid and Medicaid waivers. The diversity of services provided in adult day centers are critical for frail older adults and persons with disabilities to obtain the holistic, person-centered services that meet their individual care needs.
The legislation also recognizes the importance of adult day services as a means of reducing the stress on caregivers.
Please contact your members of the U.S. House of Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor this legislation.
The bill currently has 11 co-sponsors:
- Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY).
- Matt Cartwright (D-PA).
- Lois Frankel (D-FL).
- Alan Lowenthal (D-CA).
- Steve Cohen (D-TN).
- Michele Lujan Grisham (D-NM).
- Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA).
- John Conyers (D-MI).
- Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).
- Janice Schakowsky (D-IL).
- Yvette Clarke (D-NY).
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has reintroduced the Adult Day Center Enhancement Act (H.R.263). As of February 9, 2015, Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL) and Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) are co-sponsors.
If passed, the legislation:
- Expand and enhance existing adult day programs for younger people with neurological diseases or conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, or other similar diseases or conditions, to support and improve access to respite services for family caregivers who are taking care of such people, and for other purposes.
- Initiate a comprehensive survey of current adult day programs that provide care and support to individuals including young adults living with neurological diseases or conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, or any similar disease or condition.
- Establish within the Administration for Community Living a competitive grant program for awarding grants annually to eligible entities, based on the best practices developed under subsection (a), to fund adult day programs serving younger people with neurological diseases or conditions.
LeadingAge Supports H.R. 263
LeadingAge supports this legislation, although it will be difficult to pass H.R. 263 in this congress because of the concern over the cost of implementing these models.
LeadingAge has adult day members that specialize in caring for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and other nuerological diseases. These types of disease- specific Adult Day Centers have been very effective with improving care outcomes.
Previous research on the care of individuals with MS in an adult day services program showed promising outcomes.
Over 400,000 people are estimated to be living with multiple sclerosis, nearly 1 million people live with Parkinson’s disease, and about 1.4 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries every year.
Typically, people suffering from these neurological diseases or conditions require support from family caregivers to carry out the activities of daily living. Adult day programs can offer a range of services to assist individuals with disabilities -- including medical care, rehabilitation therapies, nutrition therapy, social interaction and transportation.
The move comes in response to OSHA's settlement of a legal challenge to the Letter. The lawsuit asserted that the Letter was contrary to OSHA regulations that stated employee representatives “shall be” employees of the employer unless third parties could provide specific expertise such as language interpretation or technical expertise. The Letter expanded this to include union representatives as identified by employees.
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