September 30, 2025
We urge you to contact your congressional representative and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 5142, the Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025, which would pause devastating Medicare cuts for two years.
Send your message here: https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/evGh-CLEOFJENNqM9rMfGA
Why this matters
In June, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a 6.4% cut ($1.135 billion) in payments to home health agencies compared to 2025. This proposed cut would devastate Medicare and the healthcare system, affect the cost of healthcare for everyone, and most likely lead to preventable deaths.
In September, a bipartisan team introduced the Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025 in the House of Representatives to “protect home health agencies from the repeated reimbursement reductions imposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,” as reported by McKnight’s Home Care.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the bill, stating: “This bill ensures seniors can get the care they need at home, while protecting taxpayers from wasteful spending.”
Who will be affected
While Wellspring is not Medicare-certified, these cuts would affect the public and all healthcare providers:
- Medicare beneficiaries: The cuts represent a direct threat to the care millions of Medicare beneficiaries receive through home health services, potentially reducing access to care. (1)
- Healthcare workers in home health: Providers, including Wellspring, are juggling inflationary pressure and a very challenging labor market. This makes it difficult, if not impossible in some areas, to deliver services. This will further affect employment and wages across the country. (2)
- Rural and underserved communities: These cuts will disproportionately impact areas where home health services are already limited. (2)
- The healthcare system overall: The cuts could reduce the availability of home health services, which are an important and cost-effective alternative to institutional care (such as hospitals and nursing homes).
What experts are saying
“The deep cuts in Medicare fee-for-service payment currently proposed threaten beneficiaries’ access to care and all providers’ viability.” –Katie Smith Sloan, president and chief executive officer of LeadingAge, a national advocacy group
“Home health is a lifesaver for millions of seniors and their loved ones. Slashing home health payments not only undermines access to this critical benefit, but it also drives up overall Medicare costs by forcing patients into more expensive care settings.” –Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK)
“This is a systemic defunding of the Medicare home health benefit resulting in access to care concerns throughout much of the country.” –National Alliance for Care at Home
About this issue
We use our blog not just to tell readers about our services and expertise, but also to share information about important matters related to home care policy at both the state and national levels. We feel every American should be aware of this threat to both individuals and the thousands of agencies that provide home health services across the country.
(1) Executive Summary: Alliance CY 2026 Home Health NPRM Comment – National Alliance for Care at Home https://allianceforcareathome.org/executive-summary-alliance-cy-2026-home-health-nprm-comment/
(2) The Alliance Responds to CY 2026 Home Health Proposed Rule – National Alliance for Care at Home https://allianceforcareathome.org/the-alliance-responds-to-cy-2026-home-health-proposed-rule/