Pennsylvania Homecare Association Members Call for Increased Funding to Address Home-Based Care Workforce Crisis

Lemoyne, PA (June 16, 2023) – Today, more than 50 home-based care providers joined together to urge the Shapiro Administration, Departments of Human Services and Aging, and the General Assembly to take immediate action to support the 125,000+ Pennsylvanians who receive home-based care through the state’s Medicaid program and the hundreds of thousands of caregivers, who make it possible for Pennsylvania’s older adults and individuals with disabilities to maintain their independence at home.

In an open letter distributed by the Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA), providers called for critical funding and additional supports to ensure that all Pennsylvanians can access quality, in-home care, when needed.

“Pennsylvania has one of the largest, and fastest growing, aging populations in the country,” says Katie Dotto, Director of Government Relations at the Pennsylvania Homecare Association. “In order to support this population today, and in the years to come, investments must be made now to address the current crisis-level shortage of inhome direct care workers, home health aides and nurses. These life-sustaining services can’t be delivered without this essential workforce.”

Pennsylvania is expected to see a 42.5% increase in demand for in-home caregivers by 2035: the fifth highest in the country. Increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for these services will allow home-based care providers to offer competitive wages to caregivers so that they can hire and retain enough qualified individuals to meet demand.

Without additional funding, homecare agencies will continue to face unsustainable workforce shortages, and without workers, Pennsylvania’s seniors, individuals with disabilities and medically-complex children will be forced to rely on costly facility-based care.

It’s time to elevate home care. It’s the vastly preferred choice (93% of individuals age 55+ plan to age in place) and it’s the fiscally responsible investment (costing less than half than facility-based care). This value needs to be translated into wages that are commensurate with the value of the care provided by the individuals who make it possible – our caregivers.

About PHA… The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is a statewide membership organization of more than 700 homecare, home health and hospice providers. PHA members provide quality care and serve as advocates for their patients and clients on a variety of healthcare related 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.