“With the memory of the pandemic’s toll in nursing homes still raw, the COVID-19 relief law is offering states a generous funding boost for home- and community-based care as an alternative to institutionalizing disabled people.” However, funding for the current bill is temporary, “raising concerns it will have just fleeting impact…” For the full story, see R. Alonso-Zaldivar, COVID-19 law sparks dialogue on nursing home alternatives (3/24/2021).

This article follows Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Conor Lamb (D-PA), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) led a letter with 107 of their colleagues to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris calling for an historic investment of $450 billion in home- and community-based services (HCBS) in the Build Back Better infrastructure package. Sent ahead of President Biden’s speech rolling out his Build Back Better proposal, the lawmakers made the case for HCBS care being included in his vision for the rebuilding of the nation’s care infrastructure.

See H.R.525 – COVID HCBS Relief Act of 2021

Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12] (Introduced 01/28/2021)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 02/02/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (All Actions)