VAN HOLLEN, HASSAN, CASEY, DUCKWORTH URGE HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED CARE FUNDING IN UPCOMING COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE

Press Release

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and a group of their colleagues today in supporting an increase in funding that would support Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package that Congress is developing.

The House of Representatives has proposed a 7.35 percent increase to Federal Medical Assistance Percentages for HCBS in the next package, and Senator Hassan and colleagues are calling for the final package to include this important increase.

"This targeted relief funding is essential for older Americans and people with disabilities who live and receive services in their homes, and the workforce that supports them, as well as for state Medicaid programs," wrote the Senators. "Without these dedicated funds for HCBS, the fragile infrastructure supporting over 4 million older adults and people with disabilities is at risk of collapsing."

The Senators discussed the long-standing challenges for home and community based care that have only been exacerbated amid the pandemic. "Prior to this pandemic, HCBS providers were operating with limited resources and experiencing workforce challenges, such as high vacancy and turnover rates. These challenges have been further exacerbated because there has been no dedicated emergency support to meet the essential needs of older adults and people with disabilities and to stabilize the caregiving system," wrote the Senators.

The letter to Senate leadership was also signed by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).

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