The Medicare home health benefit, which includes medical social services, has long been essential to beneficiaries living with acute, chronic, and advanced health conditions. Access to home health services is of utmost importance during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This Practice Alert provides an overview of the Medicare home health benefit; describes NASW’s advocacy on behalf of both home health social workers and beneficiaries served during the COVID-19 pandemic; and clarifies the status of home health social work under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model.
The Medicare open enrollment period began on October 15, 2019, and ends on December 7. During this period beneficiaries can review, compare, and switch their prescription drug (Part D) and health coverage. This NASW Practice Alert provides basic information on that process, a brief introduction to the new Medicare Plan Finder, and a summary of NASW’s perspective on Medicare privatization.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published a final rule that affects beneficiaries who seek or receive care in long-term care (LTC) facilities—defined by CMS as nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities that participate in Medicaid and Medicare, respectively. The rule, which took effect in most LTC facilities on September 16, 2019, addresses the controversial use of predispute binding arbitration agreements between LTC facilities and residents. Knowledge of this rule is essential not only for social workers employed by LTC facilities, but also for social workers who serve LTC facility residents, potential residents, and family caregivers in other capacities.
Updates on what social workers need to know now.
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