Tag Archive for: The Hill

House Passage of Bill to Provide Veterans Improved Healthcare and Benefits Will Increase Access to PACE

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This article was originally published on NPA Online.

WASHINGTON, DC – November 18, 2023 – The National PACE Association (NPA) today said that the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act will give veterans increased access to the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly across the nation.

“NPA applauds the definitive action of the U.S. House of Representatives to dramatically increase the ability of veterans to enroll in local Programs of All-Inclusive Care (PACE) through their VA benefits and age in place. We are pleased Congress has recognized that older veterans with VA health benefits should have the same access to home and community-based services, such as PACE, as other seniors,” said Shawn Bloom, president and CEO of NPA.”

Bloom added, “NPA commends the efforts of House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL12), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA39), Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS) to work together on compromise language so the bill could move forward in the 118th Congress. Further, we strongly urge the Senate to take the Dole Act up swiftly in the coming days.”

Under current law not every eligible enrolled veteran has ready access to HCBS and PACE in particular. A section of this bill, sponsored by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ6), would ensure that any veteran with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits, who is eligible for and needs home and community-based services (HCBS), including long term care services and supports (LTSS), would be able to receive such care and services at home, including through (PACE).

Providing care at home and in the community not only enhances the quality of life for veterans, their families and their caregivers, but also reduces VA health expenditures. Generally, the cost of HCBS is notably less than institutional care. Further, the VA has found that the use of HCBS creates additional savings by either delaying admission to a nursing home or avoiding such an admission altogether as well as lowering the risk of preventable hospitalizations.

“Our nation has a duty to our veterans to provide them with the best care possible through their VA health benefits, and PACE is proven to provide high quality care and reduce caregiver burden while being cost-efficient. NPA’s member PACE organizations always have been proud

to serve veterans and are eager to help more receive needed care in their preferred setting – their homes and communities. We congratulate Congress for the changes this bill will make and look forward to continuing to work with them so that all older adults will have affordable access to PACE,” Bloom stated.

The National PACE Association (NPA) works to advance the efforts of PACE programs, which coordinate and provide preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services so older individuals can continue living in the community. The PACE model of care is centered on the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. For more information, visit www.NPAonline.org and follow @TweetNPA.

Senators introduce bill to lower prescription costs for seniors with chronic illnesses

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This article was originally posted on The Hill. Read the full article here.

Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Wednesday introduced a bill that would allow people enrolled in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to choose their prescription drug plan under Medicare Part D and save more in monthly medication costs.

PACE is a Medicare/Medicaid program that provides medical and social services through a team of health care professionals which enrollees have regular access to, with the aim of avoiding placement in a nursing home.

PACE enrollees are currently required to get their Medicare Part D-covered medications through the program. Joining another Medicare prescription drug plan means being unenrolled from PACE benefits.

Carper and Cassidy’s bill, the PACE Part D Choice Act, would allow PACE beneficiaries to enroll in stand-alone prescription drug plans not operated through the program. This would also make beneficiaries eligible for prescription drug plans subject to the $2,000 annual cap that was instituted by the Inflation Reduction Act earlier this year.

The legislation, if passed, would require that PACE inform beneficiaries of their options for prescription drug plans outside of the program and help facilitate enrollment.

“PACE participants in Delaware and across our nation are dealing with rising prescription drug costs every time they need a refill for their live-saving medications. It makes no sense that these older Americans cannot choose which Medicare Part D plan makes the most financial sense for them,” Carper said in a statement.

Cassidy, a physician, said the bill would ensure that PACE beneficiaries have the “same access to lower premiums and affordable prescription drugs that lead to better health outcomes as those in other Medicare programs.”

Under the current rules, PACE beneficiaries have an average monthly premium of $1,015.03, according to the lawmakers. The senators estimated their bill would save PACE participants an average of $972.03 a month on prescription drugs, resulting in an average monthly payment of $43.

The lawmakers are aiming to pass the bill during the current lame-duck session, with the legislation designed to go into effect beginning on Jan. 1, 2023.

The Carper-Cassidy bill isn’t the only legislation seeking to reduce prescription drug costs that is in play during the lame-duck session.

A bill introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) earlier this year aimed at reducing insulin costs could potentially move forward before the next Congress is sworn in next year.

Congress is also under pressure by medical groups to waive the 4 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians that is scheduled to go into effect starting next year under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Act of 2010, which requires that new legislation not increase projected deficits.

The PAYGO cut was suspended by Congress with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this pause is set to expire beginning next year without additional action.