HOME CARE

WHEREAS, as a result of the Balanced Budget Amendment passed by Congress in 1997, Medicare spending on home health care has dropped 45 percent over the past two years; and

WHEREAS, managed care has forced many people to receive care in their homes as opposed to outpatient or acute care facilities; and

WHEREAS, some 3 million people receive home health care services every year; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the drastic cuts in Medicare reimbursement, some of the most needy home health clients are being denied care by home health agencies or finding it extremely difficult to find services as agencies may not be reimbursed for the full cost of the care they provide; and

WHEREAS, Medicare payments for home health care are set to be cut an additional 15 percent in 2002, harming even more people:

RESOLVED, that the FNHP/AFT support bipartisan efforts under way in Congress to cancel the planned 15 percent reduction in Medicare spending for home health care; and

RESOLVED, that the FNHP/AFT advocate for adequate Medicare reimbursement rates for home health care.