ACNP Endorses Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act

SCHWARTZ INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO ENSURE SENIORS AND DISABLED CAN ACCESS HOME HEALTH SERVICES

*Read the updated Dear Colleague Letter from Rep. Schwartz

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz today introduced legislation to ensure that seniors and disabled citizens have timely access to home health services under Medicare. The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act will allow physician assistants (PA), nurse practitioners (NP), clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives to order home health services for Medicare beneficiaries. The congresswoman introduced similar legislation in the 110th Congress.   
 
“Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwives and nurse specialists are playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of health care services, particularly in medically underserved and rural areas of our country where physicians may be in scarce supply,” Schwartz said. “Many seniors see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant as their primary care provider and this outdated rules means they have to jump through hoops before they are able to get the home health care they need.”
 
Currently, Medicare recognizes NP’s and PA’s as authorized providers and, in accordance with state regulations, allows them to treat patients independently, prescribe medications, and order nursing home care.  
 
However, while NP’s and PA’s are able to order nursing home care for Medicare beneficiaries, they are not able to order less costly and less intrusive home care services. And even in states that have explicitly expanded their laws to allow other medical providers to order home care, Medicare will still not certify payment for these services until a physician signs the order. Those seniors and disabled citizens who see these medical professionals as their primary care providers often need an extra office visit with an unknown physician in order to get the care they need.  
 
Schwartz’s legislation will address this problem by allowing physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives to order home health services in accordance with state laws, relieving the burden for our most vulnerable citizens.

The bill has 17 original cosponsors besides Schwartz including Reps. Baldwin, Braley, Blumenauer, Capps, Courtney, Dahlkemper, DeLauro, Farr, Garamendi, Grijalva, Harman, McCarthy, Perlmutter, Pingree, Schakowsky, Shea-Porter and Watson.

This bill is supported by: National Association for Home Care and Hospice, American Nurses Association, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Nurse Midwives, American College of Nurse Practitioners, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, and the Visiting Nurse Associations of America.

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Tali Israeli
Press Secretary
U.S. Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (PA-13)
330 Cannon House Office Building
Phone: 202-225-6111
Fax: 202-226-0611