More than 240 home care providers representing 42 states descended on Washington, DC, this week. Their purpose? To advocate on behalf of the industry. A few talking points for lawmakers on Wednesday: Pass the Home Health Stabilization Act, extend pandemic-era telehealth waivers, preserve access to Medicaid home- and community-based services, and keep hospice out of Medicare Advantage. Scott Levy, chief government affairs officer for the National Alliance for Care at Home, talked to McKnight’s Home Care for a Newsmakers podcast about the key legislative objectives of the fly-in.
One of the major advocacy issues for providers is pushing for passage of the Home Health Stabilization Act, which was introduced earlier this month and would halt home health Medicare cuts for 2026 and 2027, Scott Levy, chief government affairs officer for the National Alliance for Care at Home, said. This legislation may be able to gather more co-sponsors than previous legislation, the Preserving Access to Home Health Act. Another key legislative item for members is extending telehealth waivers that are set to extend at the end of the month and waive in-person, face-to-face encounters. While there may be another short-term extension, this likely will appear in a healthcare extenders package, Levy said. The Alliance also is against making hospice part of Medicare Advantage, known as a carve-in. This is far from a “done deal,” and the Alliance wants to get ahead of the issue, Levy said. Preserving Medicaid also is on the table given the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. And providers will continue to talk to Congress about rescinding the controversial 80/20 rule, which is contained in the Medicaid Access Rule. Advocacy matters, Levy said. He would love to have one advocate for every member organization, which would be a total of 1,500 advocates marching on Washington.
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Show contributors: Editor Liza Berger; Scott Levy, Chief Government Affairs Officer, National Alliance for Care at Home