WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) and U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) reintroduced the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act.
This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will assist family caregivers, improve coordination between caregivers and Medicare beneficiaries, and make it easier for caregivers to access pertinent health information.
“We can help family caregivers, who already bear other personal, professional, and medical responsibilities and worries, by easing the conveyance of assistance and resources to them through 1-800-Medicare,” Rep. Carey said. “This legislation is bipartisan, bicameral, and straightforward. I am committed to finding ways to help millions of caregivers coordinate the delivery of benefits and medical care to their loved ones.”
“Family caregivers shoulder enormous responsibility while helping loved ones navigate Medicare, yet too often they face confusing systems, long wait times, and language barriers when trying to get basic information,” Rep. Chu said. “That’s why I’m joining Rep. Carey and Sens. Hassan and Tillis to reintroduce the bipartisan, bicameral Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act. Our bill would strengthen Medicare’s support for caregivers by expanding outreach about available caregiver resources, improving training for 1-800-MEDICARE operators, ensuring caregivers can access accurate information when beneficiaries authorize them to do so, and making this information available in non-English languages. By improving coordination and communication, this bill helps reduce unnecessary stress for caregivers and supports better care for seniors.”
“Caregivers carry a tremendous burden while caring for loved ones, and I know first-hand that caregivers too often face unnecessary barriers when trying to coordinate care,” Senator Tillis said. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senator Hassan to enable caregivers to better advocate for their loved ones and make it easier for caregivers to communicate with Medicare on their behalf.”
“The 1-800-MEDICARE hotline is a vitally important resource for seniors and caregivers to get information about care options, medical expenses, and more,” Senator Hassan said. “This bill is a commonsense, bipartisan measure to ensure that the hotline is providing the best and most efficient support possible for seniors and their family caregivers through increased education, training, outreach, and opportunities for feedback.”
“AARP, which advocates for 125 million Americans age 50 and older and their families, is pleased to endorse the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act. There are 63 million family caregivers in the United States who assist their older parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, adult children, and other loved ones so they can live independently in their homes – where they want to be. Caregivers provide an estimated $600 billion in unpaid labor each year, saving taxpayers billions of dollars, and without them, America’s health and long-term care systems would collapse. The Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act would help inform people about Medicare’s voluntary option for Medicare beneficiaries to allow family caregivers to access their health information through 1-800-MEDICARE. This is a commonsense solution to make it easier for families to provide care to their loved ones, including at home, where most Americans want to be,” Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, said.
BACKGROUND:
The bipartisan Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act aims to improve the coordination of care between caregivers and Medicare beneficiaries. It will publicize resources Medicare has for family caregivers, including the voluntary option allowing Medicare beneficiaries to allow family caregivers to access their health information through 1-800-Medicare.
The legislation also requires Medicare to train 1-800-Medicare operators on how to properly provide family caregivers with all the appropriate information. It further requires that information be provided in non-English languages.
Full text of the bill can be found here.
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