Home care
Senate Democrats seek input on a universal home care benefit and nursing home reforms
Senate Finance Committee Democrats released an 81-page request for feedback on long-term care reform, including a universal home care benefit, nursing home ownership transparency and staffing standards, with comments due December 18.
Key facts
- Skilled Nursing News reported on October 19, following McKnight's Senior Living the evening before, that Sen.
- Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, released an 81-page document the previous Friday titled "Delivering An Affordable Home Care Guarantee for American Families." It proposes a universal home care benefit, steps to strengthen the long-term care workforce and improvements to nursing home quality, and asks for feedback through December 18.
- The request seeks input on nursing home ownership transparency, limiting private equity influence, renewing staffing standards and a federal floor on how much Medicare and Medicaid money goes to direct resident care.
What happened
Skilled Nursing News reported on October 19, following McKnight's Senior Living the evening before, that Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, released an 81-page document the previous Friday titled "Delivering An Affordable Home Care Guarantee for American Families." It proposes a universal home care benefit, steps to strengthen the long-term care workforce and improvements to nursing home quality, and asks for feedback through December 18.
The request seeks input on nursing home ownership transparency, limiting private equity influence, renewing staffing standards and a federal floor on how much Medicare and Medicaid money goes to direct resident care. It notes New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey already have similar spending requirements. Nursing home groups said there is "real common ground" but some oppose reinstating the repealed 2024 staffing rule.
What it means for families
This is a request for ideas, not a law. But it shows what may be debated in Congress, and families who rely on home care or nursing homes can share their experience during the comment period.
For example: a daughter who has struggled to find home care aides for her father could send a short comment describing the gaps her family faced.
What this means in New York: New York already requires nursing homes to spend a minimum share of revenue on direct care, one of the models the senators cite.
Quick answers
What is in the Senate Democrats' long-term care proposal?
Skilled Nursing News reported on October 19, following McKnight's Senior Living the evening before, that Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, released an 81-page document the previous Friday titled "Delivering An Affordable Home Care Guarantee for American Families." It proposes a universal home care benefit, steps to strengthen the long-term care workforce and improvements to nursing home quality, and asks for feedback through December 18.
What to do this week
- If you want to weigh in, read the summary in the sources and send a short comment by December 18.
- Write down your family's biggest long-term care problem in two or three sentences; that is a useful comment.
- Contact your U.S. senators' offices to share your experience.
Sources
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