- May 1, 2017
- Maryland Center for Economic Policy
- Christopher Meyer
Home care aides provide vital care to thousands of Marylanders who have difficulty with daily tasks because of their age, a disability, or a health condition. These workers help their clients with a wide variety of critical daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. This care enables many to remain in their homes rather than moving to a nursing home or other institution.
As Maryland’s population ages, home care is likely to become increasingly important for the health of older Marylanders and people with disabilities, as well as for our state economy. Because Medicaid pays for more than half of all home care services delivered nationwide, state policies have an important role in determining the kind and quality of home care services available.
Unfortunately, Maryland recently limited the ways aging adults and Marylanders with disabilities can obtain Medicaid-funded home care services by canceling its independent provider program. This program allowed people who receive home care services to exercise a significant degree of control over their own care, and canceling it is likely to harm both Medicaid participants and home care aides. Although the state initially projected that this program would become dramatically more costly as a result of changes in federal labor regulations, an analysis by the Maryland Center on Economic Policy shows that these costs would be relatively small. To ensure quality care for older Marylanders and Marylanders with disabilities, the state should reinstate the independent provider program.As Maryland’s population ages, home care is likely to become increasingly important for the health of older Marylanders and people with disabilities, as well as for our state economy. Because Medicaid pays for more than half of all home care services delivered nationwide, state policies have an important role in determining the kind and quality of home care services available.