The Biden administration has announced that it will release a final rule on Monday aimed at tackling workforce shortages and improving access to essential long-term care services through Medicaid. This rule, identified as RIN: 0938-AU68, comes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and requires that at least 80% of Medicaid payments for home health care services be allocated to workers’ wages.
According to a fact sheet from the White House, this decision was influenced by feedback from over 2,000 public comments. The administration’s goal with this rule is to elevate wages in order to make it easier for providers to attract and retain aides who offer in-home care for older individuals. By increasing pay for these essential workers, the hope is that more people will be encouraged to enter the field and stay in it, ultimately improving the quality and accessibility of long-term care services for those in need.
