Pediatric home health care.
The proposed legislation is significant for California's health care landscape, particularly in the realm of pediatric care. By bolstering financial support for home health agencies, the bill aims to improve service availability for children who need extensive nursing support at home, potentially leading to better health outcomes. The requirement for the Department to submit an evaluation report by July 1, 2021, reflects an accountability measure to assess the program's effectiveness in increasing service delivery and meeting rising demands.
Assembly Bill 654, known as the Pediatric Home Health Care bill, aims to enhance access to in-home nursing services for children by establishing a supplemental payment program for licensed home health agencies that provide continuous nursing care under the Medi-Cal program. This initiative is intended to incentivize more home health agencies to participate in Medi-Cal services by financially supporting them in treating pediatric patients. The bill sets a target for the Department of Health Care Services to roll out this program by January 1, 2018, with its implementation contingent upon federal financial support.
The sentiment surrounding AB 654 appears to be generally positive among legislative supporters, as it addresses critical gaps in care for children with significant health needs. Advocacy is expected from healthcare professionals and families who benefit from continuous nursing services. However, there remains an acknowledgment of concerns regarding adequate funding, regulatory oversights, and the potential for bureaucracy that could impede timely service delivery.
Some contention may arise regarding how effectively the program can be enacted and maintained, particularly surrounding the stipulations for stakeholder engagement in establishing the supplemental payment amounts. Additionally, there is concern about whether the financial incentives are sufficient to attract and retain home health agencies in this specialized field amid national nursing shortages. Furthermore, the bill's sunset clause, stating that the program becomes inoperative on December 31, 2021, raises questions about the long-term sustainability of these services beyond this initial phase.