Page 5 - 2018PHAVoterGuide

Candidates for U.S. Senate

Lou Barletta (R)

The care of our seniors is an issue all Americans care about. As baby
boomers retire, and the pool of retirees who depend on the sustainability
of America’s social safety net increases, it’s important that we explore all
options to expand access to health care. Home-based health care is an
integral part in adapting to budget constraints and an aging population.
That’s why I cosponsored H.R. 1825, the Home Health Care Planning
Improvement Act of 2017, which would allow for nurse specialists and
physician assistants to order home health services under Medicare. This
will ensure beneficiaries have timely access to home health care and
reduce costs for Medicare.

This legislation is also key to ensuring the sustainability of home-based
care for Medicaid in the future. H.R. 1825 will also help lay a sustainable
future of Medicaid by expanding the ability for medical practitioners to
provide outpatient services under Medicare.

Another important issue facing every American community is the opioid crisis, which has been
particularly devastating for Pennsylvania and the larger Appalachian region. In 2016, 4 in 10 non-elderly
adults with an opioid addiction were covered by Medicaid, which reduces Medicaid’s ability to provide
services for seniors and the disabled. That’s why I introduced the Treating Barriers to Prosperity Act,
which would allow for the Appalachian Regional Commission funding to be used to support programs
designed to eliminate or reduce barriers to workforce development, attract and retain healthcare
services, businesses, and workers, and develop relevant infrastructure, including broadband access for
telemedicine treatment. The Treating Barriers to Prosperity Act will help to provide treatment to those
with an opioid addiction and access to critical tools they need to get back into the workforce.

BOTH SENATE CANDIDATES WERE ASKED:

The number of Pennsylvania seniors is growing 30 times faster than the number of working-age
adults. In fact, the U.S. Administration for Community Living predicts that nearly one-third of all
Pennsylvanians will be over 60 in the year 2030. As Baby Boomers age into the long-term care system
and budgets at the state and federal level tighten, what reforms do you believe could help make
Medicaid home-based care a sustainable option for years to come? Should Medicare be expanded to
cover in-home personal care?
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