Senate’s $3.5T Budget Package Includes Homecare Priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 20, 2021)—The United States Senate has approved a $3.5 trillion budget resolution. This resolution will serve as the vehicle for the second part of President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ infrastructure investment, much of which intends to strengthen the social safety net.

The resolution now moves onto the House of Representatives, where it is expected to be voted on next week. If approved, as expected, Congressional Democrats will be able to use the reconciliation process that only requires a simple majority in the Senate, allowing them to evade a Republican filibuster. This lower threshold will more easily allow Senate Democrats to move the final package through the chamber with their 51-50 majority (including Vice President Harris’s tie-breaking vote).

Note: This legislation is distinct from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) approved by the Senate on August 10. The BIF focused more on traditional ideas of infrastructure including roads, bridges, ports and railways.

The instructions in the budget resolution were written to be intentionally broad, allowing latitude for the various committees of jurisdiction to carry out the overall goals.

Of note to the homecare and hospice community are instructions given to the Senate Finance Committee, which was instructed to create $1 billion in deficit reduction policies, likely through tax reform measures and other undefined health care savings. The Finance Committee was also instructed to include policies focusing on paid and family medical leave, lowering the Medicare eligibility age, long-term care for seniors and those with disabilities, and pro-worker incentives.

Meanwhile, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee will be working on workforce development and job training issues for the reconciliation package.

Policies impacting long-term care for seniors and those with disabilities are likely to be similar to those in the Better Care Better Jobs Act championed by Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Debbie Dingell. These policies focus on investments into the Medicaid home- and community-based services program designed to increase access to care, strengthen the workforce through increased wages and develop career growth opportunities. 

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has expressed support for the Better Care Better Jobs Act and will be pushing for its inclusion in the reconciliation package. NAHC is also advocating for the inclusion of the Choose Home Care Act of 2021.