home health care


Today the Senate passed a home health care bill by unanimous consent. The bill was introduced by the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee after Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and other senators urged action before the 105th Congress adjourns. The Senate-passed bill must be reconciled with a home health care bill passed by the House on Saturday. The differences must be resolved if the legislation is to be included in the omnibus spending bill to be considered this week.

Sen. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, made the following comment on the Senate bill:

"This is not a perfect bill. It wouldn't do as much as I'd like to help the low-cost home health agencies, like those in Iowa. I would prefer more dramatic changes to the current system, which penalizes low-cost agencies and rewards high-cost agencies. However, this legislation will help, and it's the most likely to pass of any proposal under consideration. I hope we'll enact these reforms quickly so we can preserve home health care for the seniors who need it."