SCPC Applauds Introduction of the Better Care Better Jobs Act

DATE: June 30, 2021

Bill supports long-term care recipients of home and community-based (HCBS) services; long-term care pharmacies are equipped to offer high-quality care to HCBS beneficiaries. 

Washington, DC - The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) applauds The Better Care Better Jobs Act, a new bill that would expand Medicaid’s home and community-based services (HCBS) and increase access to high-quality long-term care services. SCPC President and CEO Alan Rosenbloom provided the following statement:  

“Late last week, the Senate took an important step toward providing Americans with long-term care needs comparable access to services in the community and in institutional settings. For too long, federal policy—particularly Medicaid—has favored institutional care, although roughly 70% of older Americans who need long-term services and supports (LTSS) live at home and most prefer to remain there.  It is time to assure more choices and better options for all older adults and people with disabilities who need LTSS. 

​​“Most individuals who need LTSS also have complex clinical and health care needs, and their LTSS needs are interwoven with their health care needs such as prescription medication management. Policy should integrate programs and services designed to address the full array of individual needs. ​Long-term care (LTC) pharmacies, including more than 325 pharmacies nationwide represented by SCPC, are intimately familiar with the nexus of LTSS needs and health care delivery, as providers of care for more than 850,000 patients daily. ​​

​​“​LTC pharmacies dispense medications and provide important care for people who need LTSS ​through ​​care coordination, medication management, around the clock support and emergency medication delivery. ​ Despite the similar level of care necessary for residents of LTC facilities and LTC patients receiving HCBS, ​​Medicaid only requires that facility residents receive these essential services, while those living in the community receive services must fend for themselves.  As a result, the quality of life and quality of care for those in the community suffers.   

“​​​The Better Care Better Jobs Act is ​an important step toward the objective of creating​​ parity in care and services across long-term care settings. ​​​SCPC looks forward to working with ​Congress ​to ​assure ​for all Medicaid beneficiaries—whether they live in facilities or at home. The current 3.5 million HCBS beneficiaries, and the millions more who will require these services as our population ages, deserve no less.”   

###

About Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition

The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) is the only national organization exclusively representing the interests of LTC pharmacies, representing 75% of the sector overall. Its members operate in all 50 states and serve 850,000 patients daily in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across the country. Visit seniorcarepharmacies.org to learn more.