THE BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS: MEDICARE REPORT - JULY 19, 2002
Oberstar Proposes Medicare Coverage Buy-In for Caregivers of Family Members
Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.) July 16 introduced legislation (H.R. 5139) that would create a buy-in Medicare program for caregivers, between the ages of 55 and 65, of chronically ill family members.
"Many of the shortcomings in the health care system related to care at the end of life arise from inherent shortcomings in federal policy," Oberstar said. He added that the bill "will meet the challenges faced by a growing number of people who must live with serious chronic illness for some time before death."
Oberstar said the purpose of the bill was to "guarantee that those caregivers approaching Medicare age would not have to go without health insurance themselves when they are forced to leave work to care for a family member."
The bill, Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2002, also would provide a $3,000 per year tax credit for caregivers of low-income individuals with long-term needs.
"The United States is the only developed nation that does not support family caregivers," Oberstar said. "While this tax credit is not enough to pay for the financial sacrifices incurred by many caregivers who provide long-term care, it will demonstrate support for the significant commitment and contributions made by those who help loved ones live well despite serious illness."
The bill also would require the departments of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs to implement programs to improve the quality of end-of-life care.
HHS would have to increase chronic illness and end-of-life services for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, as well as other programs.
Oberstar's office estimates that the buy-in program would cost $120 million per year, the tax credit would cost $14 billion over 10 years, and the programs for HHS and VA would cost $820 million over five years.
The bill has been assigned to the subcommittees on health for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, and House Veteran Affairs Committee.
It would call for the creation of a Medicare pilot program to "demonstrate innovative, effective means of delivering care to Medicare beneficiaries with fatal chronic illnesses under the Medicare program."
