In a new set of recommendations published Friday by the Commonwealth Fund, a private healthcare-focused foundation, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and Duke University argue for three regulatory changes to expand the Medicare home health benefit in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They are:

  • Expand regulatory oversight of home health agencies.
  • Expand home care opportunities through better integration of home health, healthcare and social care; extend coverage of telehealth home health visits after discharge from skilled nursing facilities; and pay family caregivers who support COVID-19 patients’ recovery at home.
  • Make permanent the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, physician assistants and clinical nurse specialties now allowed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The report also recommends increasing wage and benefits for home health aides, who currently earn, on average, less than $12 an hour.