The Post Star
May 24, 2016

Stefanik co-sponsors legislation to test feasibility of Medicare alternative to nursing homes

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, on May 12 co-sponsored legislation Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., introduced Dec. 10 to test the feasibility of a “community based” Medicare managed care program that would provide care at patient residences instead of at a nursing home or similar in-patient facility, according the Library of Congress government information website.

The legislative would authorize up to five Medicare Advantage plans to offer the coverage for services such as house keeping, home delivered meals, transportation, adult day care and caregiver respite assistance in order to demonstrate whether the program would be effective.

The goal is to extend the period of time before patients exhaust their finances and become eligible for Medicaid coverage.

The legislation — HR 4212 — had 20 co-sponsors, as of Monday — 13 Democrats and seven Republicans.

Other co-sponsors from New York are as follows:

  • Yvette Clarke, D-Brooklyn
  • John Katko, R-Camillus
  • Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam
  • Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook

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