Home Health Legislation Introduced in the House
The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (H.R. 4993) was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 13 by Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-PA). The Senate companion for The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (S. 2814) was introduced in November 2009 by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Kent Conrad (D-ND).
The Home Health Planning and Improvement Act would allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives to order home health services under Medicare in accordance with state law. Medicare has recognized the independent practice of APRNs for nearly two decades, and these health care professionals now provide the majority of skilled care to home health patients. Unfortunately, a quirk in Medicare law has kept APRNs from signing home health plans of care and from certifying Medicare patients for the home health benefit. In areas where access to physicians is limited, this outdated prohibition has lead to delays in health care delivery. These delays in care inconvenience patients and their families. In addition, delays can also result in increased cost to the Medicare system when patients are unnecessarily left in more expensive institutional settings.
Michelle Artz
Tags: April 2010, APRNs, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), H.R. 4993, home health, Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act, S. 2814
