The Medicare at Home Act would add a new home care benefit to Medicare that covers assistance with activities like bathing, dressing, and eating, as well as meal preparation and medication reminders for seniors and people with disabilities. The benefit would be limited to 20 hours per week and would only be available to Medicare beneficiaries who need help with at least two activities of daily living or two instrumental activities of daily living, as certified by a physician. The bill addresses the fact that over 10 million Medicare beneficiaries currently need such assistance but are forced to pay out of pocket, often spending over $60,000 annually, or turning to Medicaid when their savings are depleted. Funding for the new benefit would come through adjustments to Medicare Part B premiums, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services required to provide a cost estimate to Congress within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The benefit would become effective more than two years after the law passes, giving the Health and Human Services Department time to write regulations and establish standards for home care workers and agencies.
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