National Alliance on Caregiving: Strengthening the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers – A Medicare Policy Framework
Category:
Proposal Overview
Name: National Alliance on Caregiving: Strengthening the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers – A Medicare Policy Framework
Year: 2025
Sponsoring Organization and Key Author(s):
Sponsoring Organization:
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) conducts research and policy analysis, develops national best practice programs, and works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. NAC also provides technical assistance to a national network of caregiving coalitions.
Key Authors:
Not specified
Program Details
Overview: This policy brief explores a set of federal policy options to enhance Medicare’s support for family caregivers and to improve access to HCBS. It makes recommendations for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congress. Policy options focus on creating and implementing healthcare delivery frameworks that recognize, value, and integrate family caregivers. The options are expected to improve outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries and address significant financial, emotional, and physical pressures facing millions of family caregivers.
Major Legislative Recommendations
Expand/Enhance Caregiver Programs
Medicare
Recommends expanding eligibility for supplemental benefits within Medicare Advantage so more enrollees can access caregiver supports. Currently, eligibility is limited to enrollees who are chronically ill Recommends expanding access to caregiver training services (CTS) by making the provision to provide CTS through telehealth permanent, eliminating the copay for CTS, and allowing CTS coverage before meeting the deductible.
Recommends expanding access to in-home care by eliminating Medicare’s “homebound” requirement for home health care.
Recommends Congress pass the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act to require CMS and the Social Security Administration to review eligibility processes, procedures, forms, and communications to reduce the administrative burden on family caregivers across programs like Medicare and Medicaid. This should help family caregivers and care recipients apply, enroll, and maintain coverage for the benefits to which they are entitled.
Financial Supports for Family Caregivers
Tax Credit/Deduction for Caregiver Expenses
Recommends tax incentives for families paying for respite care.
Recommends a federal tax credit for caregivers.
Other
Study Commissions
Recommends Congress request a GAO report to identify barriers to consumer direction within Medicare.