It is ironic that the Paterson administration acknowledges its own planned cuts to home care could “backfire” considering that states that invest in home-and community-based services are proven to offer their citizens the greatest access to long-term care at the lowest cost. Isn’t this reason enough to dismiss the cuts before precious time, opportunity and sound policy options are wasted?

As policymakers know, home care is a sound solution for controlling health care costs. Patients are able to be discharged sooner from the hospital because post-acute home care decreases the likelihood of hospital readmission, just as patients receiving care at home are also increasingly able to avoid premature or unwanted nursing home admission.

While trumpeting regressive cuts, the Paterson administration drowns out constructive cost-saving proposals, specifically the Home Care Accessibility and Efficiency Improvement Act. This 33-part legislation contains positive ideas for saving Medicaid dollars by instituting home-care program enhancements, regulatory reform, work force flexibility, quality and performance standards and a realignment of financial incentives. These proposals reflect home care’s role as a cost-savings design of our health care system while tapping into home care’s potential to further save Medicaid dollars.

Joanne Cunningham

President, Home Care Association of New York State