Posted on 01/23/2003 12:11:07 PM PST by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saying it is not only cheaper, but better for patients, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said on Thursday it was pushing to extend benefits to get disabled patients out of nursing homes.
When President Bush asks Congress next month for money for 2004, he will request a $1.75 billion, five-year program to allow Medicaid to pay for more home- and community-based services for the sick and other disabled people such as the retarded, HHS officials said.
"The president and I are committed to changing policies that unnecessarily confine people with disabilities in institutional settings," HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said in a statement.
Medicaid is the state-federal health insurance program for the poor.
The program would be an extension of long-running Medicaid changes aimed at helping people get out of institutions, administration officials said.
"There are still people who are served in institutional settings who could be taken care of at home or in group homes," said one official who asked not to be identified.
"These changes have been going on for quite some time. We are just trying to infuse more money into it to help the process move faster."
The proposals would allow patients to get waivers that would divert Medicaid funding from an institution such as a nursing home to a home or community service. States would have to request the money on a case-by-case basis on behalf of the patients.
For instance, the plan could extend funding that helps retarded people live in group homes instead of institutions. A waiver might also be used to help a frail patient pay for in-home nursing care or other assistance.
"We didn't do it for the reason of saving money, but in the long run helping people stay in their homes, in particular, is a win-win for everybody," said one official. "That is what individuals prefer."
The proposals include $16 million to pay for Medicaid eligibility for spouses of disabled individuals who return to work. "Under current law, individuals with disabilities might be discouraged from returning to work because the income they earn could jeopardize their spouse's Medicaid eligibility," HHS said in a statement.
"This proposal would extend to the spouse the same Medicaid coverage protection now offered to the disabled worker."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saying it is not only cheaper, but better for patients, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said on Thursday it was pushing to extend benefits to get disabled patients out of nursing homes.
When President Bush asks Congress next month for money for 2004, he will request a $1.75 billion, five-year program to allow Medicaid to pay for more home- and community-based services for the sick and other disabled people such as the retarded, HHS officials said.
"The president and I are committed to changing policies that unnecessarily confine people with disabilities in institutional settings," HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said in a statement.
Medicaid is the state-federal health insurance program for the poor.
The program would be an extension of long-running Medicaid changes aimed at helping people get out of institutions, administration officials said.
"There are still people who are served in institutional settings who could be taken care of at home or in group homes," said one official who asked not to be identified.
"These changes have been going on for quite some time. We are just trying to infuse more money into it to help the process move faster."
The proposals would allow patients to get waivers that would divert Medicaid funding from an institution such as a nursing home to a home or community service. States would have to request the money on a case-by-case basis on behalf of the patients.
For instance, the plan could extend funding that helps retarded people live in group homes instead of institutions. A waiver might also be used to help a frail patient pay for in-home nursing care or other assistance.
"We didn't do it for the reason of saving money, but in the long run helping people stay in their homes, in particular, is a win-win for everybody," said one official. "That is what individuals prefer."
The proposals include $16 million to pay for Medicaid eligibility for spouses of disabled individuals who return to work. "Under current law, individuals with disabilities might be discouraged from returning to work because the income they earn could jeopardize their spouse's Medicaid eligibility," HHS said in a statement.
"This proposal would extend to the spouse the same Medicaid coverage protection now offered to the disabled worker."
When I first posted this article, the article came up blank and I thought I messed up. So I quickly reposted the text as a comment, and it suddenly reappears.
Weird.
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