Open Doors Home Health Care Act

This year the Coalition has introduced legislation to return flexbility to home health care provided through TennCare.  The legislation is known as the Open Doors Home Health Care Act.  It is sponsored by Senator Diane Black (Senate Bill 851) and Representative David Shepard (House Bill 1114).  We hope you will reach out to your legislators and ask them to support the legislation.

Re-opening doors to a world of possibilities

In 2008, TennCare enacted new rules that generally forbid home health aides and private duty nurses from leaving an individual’s home or apartment while providing services to that person.  These new rules prevented home health care providers from accompanying their clients to church, classes, work, community activities, or even a doctor’s appointment.

As a result, many individuals who were previously active in the community suddenly found themselves essentially confined to the four walls of their home or apartment if they could not go out alone due to a health condition or did not have other supports.  It effectively isolated people from the world around them.

The Legislation

This simple 1-page bill will turn back the clock by removing the 2008 TennCare restrictions on home health care and re-opening doors to the community.  The legislation specifically states that home health care services can accompany individuals into the community for routine activities of daily living such as:

• Outpatient medical appointments
• School and other educational functions
• Employment and volunteer opportunities
• Church and other religious services 

The legislation does not require home health care providers to provide transportation, nor does it require new services.  It only requires that people be allowed to leave their homes and to do so with supports so that they can enjoy the world of opportunities available in the community.

Spirit of Long-Term Care Reform – This legislation is firmly in line with the intent of last year’s Long-Term Care Community Choices Act which sought to provide services in the home and community so that Tennesseans would not become dependant upon more expensive institutional care.

Flyers about the bill are below: