Demaio Blasts Sweeping Medicare Cuts, Which Put Vulnerable Seniors Receiving Care At Home Risk

Press Release

Draconian Medicare cuts of 14 percent that Scott Peters supported jeopardize access to critical care for 130,000 Californians

San Diego- Carl DeMaio today denounced the unprecedented 14 percent cut to home health services and its negative impact on patient access to quality, skilled home health care and healthcare jobs across the state.

"By allowing these cuts to happen, Congress has turned its back on our seniors," said DeMaio.

Late last year, the Obama Administration issued the Final Home Health Prospective Payment System Rule as part of the Affordable Care Act - commonly known as Obamacare - which cuts the Medicare home health benefit by 3.5 percent each year over the next four years (2014-2017), amounting to a total cut of 14 percent. These cuts, which just went into effect on January 1st, are already leading to job loss and endangering access to clinically advanced, cost-effective home healthcare that is necessary for homebound patients.

DeMaio, a nationally-recognized expert on making government accountable and more efficient, blasted the move to cut funding instead of finding ways to make health care more affordable through market reforms.

"Rather than solving issues with bureaucratic efficiency and accountability, Congress and politicians like Scott Peters continue to take the easy route in imposing severe cuts in services that will directly impact nearly 130,000 Californians," DeMaio said.

In addition to supporting the law that resulted in these Medicare cuts, Scott Peters recently announced his support for yet another plan that would cut Medicare even more. When given a chance on several separate occasions to stop these devastating cuts in Medicare funding, Scott Peters voted to keep the cuts in place and has even said he'd support more cuts to Medicare.

"Right when seniors need the most care, Scott Peters has supported policies to take care away from this important group," said DeMaio.

Across California, roughly 260,000 vulnerable seniors receive skilled home health care services for illnesses related to acute, chronic or rehabilitative needs. These quality health care services are provided by more than 65,000 home health professionals employed by nearly 1000 agencies statewide.

"Over the last four years, the home health community has absorbed $22 billion in cuts, affecting a vulnerable demographic of old, poor and very sick Americans," added Dan Weber, President of the Association of Mature American Citizens. "Due to continued cuts, many of these people are losing access to home health care and are having to seek care in facility-based settings away from their homes, increasing costs and leading to poorer clinical outcomes. This is a result of bad policies that must be fixed," concluded Weber.

Numerous studies demonstrate that home health is the most cost-effective care setting for seniors and saves the Medicare program money by keeping patients in the home and out of the hospital. Home health is also the preferred setting - with 90 percent of seniors wanting to age in place according to AARP.

"Instead of cutting critical health care services to those who need it most, it's time to reform the way we provide health care to ensure efficiency and continuity of service," concluded DeMaio.

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