Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris announced plans to provide long-term home care services through Medicare, the public health insurance program for Americans 65 and older.
If approved, the program would be a major expansion of Medicare, which currently only covers home health care under narrow circumstances. Harris made the announcement on ABC's The View, a daytime talk show popular with older women.
“Caring for your parents means trying to cook what they want and can eat,” Harris says. “That means choosing clothes for them that are soft enough that won't irritate their skin. It means trying to think of something funny to make them laugh or smile.” she said.
“We are talking about declining skills in older people, but their dignity and pride are not diminishing,” Harris added.
The announcement is part of the Harris campaign's effort to focus on the “sandwich generation,” the more than 105 million Americans who are caring for parents, children, or both.
Currently, Medicare typically covers home care only in “post-acute” situations, such as when you are recovering from surgery.
Instead, Medicaid, the public health insurance program for people with low incomes and disabilities, provides what the government calls “long-term support services” (from nursing homes to the home health aides Harris focused on). is the largest single payer. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Medicaid spent $207 billion on long-term support services in 2021, about 44% of all such spending nationwide.
Harris said the program would be paid for by expanding Medicare prescription drug negotiations and limiting payments to pharmacy benefit managers, the intermediaries in the U.S. drug supply system.
Medicare completed initial negotiations with drug manufacturers this year. CBO estimates Prescription drug negotiations could save the government $98.5 billion over 10 years. Harris did not discuss the cost of the home care assistance program during her appearance. Her campaign argued for the cost of home care. About $3,000 less per month than nursing home care.
But Harris said the proposal was made through Medicare to avoid a phenomenon many in the sandwich generation recognized: Medicaid “spending cuts.” Families who are forced to “deplete” their loved one's assets must pay certain medical costs before Medicaid begins covering the costs.
People receiving long-term support services are among the government's most expensive beneficiaries. Despite making up 6% of the total population enrolled in Medicaid, they account for 34% of federal and state Medicaid spending, the analysis found. Kaiser Family Foundation.
