Home Care Must Be Prioritized in Pennsylvania

Teri Henning, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, issued the following statement in response to Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal.

Today, Governor Shapiro reiterated a simple fact – Pennsylvanians want to be at home.

When given the choice, nearly 90 percent of adults over 50 want to remain in their homes and communities as they age. Not only is receiving care at home the overwhelming preference for Pennsylvania’s seniors and their families, it is also the financially responsible decision for Pennsylvania.

At less than half the cost of nursing home care, in-home care provides better health outcomes and reduces the likelihood of hospital admissions.

With seniors over 65 as the fastest growing population in Pennsylvania, investments must be made to not only support their decision to age in place, but also to protect the Commonwealth’s long-term financial outlook.

Unfortunately, despite the overwhelming support for in-home care, Pennsylvania has chronically underfunded Medicaid-paid home care, leaving in-home care providers unable to compete in today’s job market. In a PHA survey, 98% of home care providers reported turning away individuals in need due to staffing shortages. Without meaningful investments in these programs, home care providers will be forced to continue to turn away individuals in need.

While PHA supports Governor Shapiro’s plans to support the OPTIONS program, reward nurses, and increase funding for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism, Pennsylvania’s seniors and individuals with disabilities must also be prioritized by Pennsylvania’s leaders.

We urge the administration and general assembly to commit necessary funding in this year’s budget to ensure that Pennsylvania’s 100,000+ seniors and individuals with disabilities eligible for Medicaid home and community-based services have the support they need to maintain their independence in their homes and communities. We look forward to working with them to keep Pennsylvania’s seniors and individuals with disabilities at home, where they want and deserve to be.

About PHA… The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is a statewide organization of nearly 700 home health, homecare and hospice providers. PHA members provide quality care and serve as advocates for their patients and clients on a variety of healthcare issues. PHA and its members work to improve professional standards and ensure access to quality homecare throughout the Commonwealth. To learn more, visit www.pahomecare.org.