Partnership Applauds Illinois for Supporting Home Healthcare Services

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare – a national coalition representing more than 1,500 community- and hospital-based home health agencies nationwide – today praised the Illinois House for approving a supplemental spending bill that provides funds for community care to help senior citizens remain in their homes as long as possible. Approved in a landslide 115-2 vote, the legislation allocates $173 million for community care services.

The Illinois Department of Aging, which administers the community care program, supports 85,000 seniors with services that allow them to remain in their homes and out of institutional care. The cost savings of the community care program are staggering: the state pays just $8,000 per person for community care compared with $38,000 per person for institutionalized care.

"We applaud the Illinois House for continuing to fund such a vital service to seniors," stated Eric Berger, CEO of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare. "Home healthcare is proven to be cost-effective and this new bill will achieve much-needed savings for Illinois taxpayers by enabling seniors to avoid institutional care and remain in the setting they prefer most: their homes."

Illinois is the latest in a string of states to dedicate support for cost-effective home healthcare. For example, Ohio's PASSPORT program provides support so seniors can receive care in their homes rather than an institutional setting.

"We are gratified that states recognize home-based care as a key tool for containing healthcare costs. Home healthcare providers stand ready to assist state and federal lawmakers to ensure seniors receive the care they need in the most cost-effective setting available," added Berger.

The Clinically Appropriate and Cost-Effective Placement (CACEP) analysis commissioned by the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of home healthcare.  CACEP's findings include the projection that as much as $100 billion in Medicare savings can be achieved over a 10-year period when post-hospitalization patients are served in the most cost-effective clinically appropriate settings.

Nearly 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries receive skilled home healthcare for both chronic and rehabilitative needs.  Skilled home healthcare is widely recognized as clinically advanced, cost effective and patient preferred. Research indicates that 90% of seniors prefer to age in place and remain independent as long as possible.

The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare was established in 2010 to assist government officials in ensuring access to skilled home healthcare services for seniors and disabled Americans. Representing more than 1,500 community- and hospital-based home healthcare agencies across the United States, the Partnership is dedicated to developing innovative reforms to improve the quality, efficiency and integrity of home healthcare. To learn more, visit www.homehealth4america.org. To join the home healthcare policy conversation, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and our blog.

SOURCE Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare