Please Help Support U.S. Caregivers
- by: CaregiversNC
- recipient: U.S. Congress
As the long time caregiver for my Mom, I know the sacrifices we as caregivers make. Our decision to keep Mom at home with us has literally cost us everything, including our home. The Lifespan Respite Care Act may have prevented our current situation. Please join with me in supporting other family caregivers before they end up in similar situations. Our family's story can be seen here Surviving Medicare, Alcoholism, Bipolar Disorder, & Abuse - One Woman's True Story .
The Lifespan Respite Care Act was signed into law in 2006, but has not received funding from Congress for its implementation. We can change that by urging Congress to include funding for the program in the FY09 Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bills that will soon be drafted by both the House and Senate. The law authorizes Congress to spend up to $53.3 million in FY09 and we are requesting the full authorized amount. Even if you have been urging funding for months, the process starts anew in 2008. The Lifespan Respite Care Act was passed by Congress in 2006 to make respite more accessible and affordable to family caregivers, regardless of age or disability, but to date, Congress has provided no funding ($0.00). We finally have an opportunity to provide the one service -- respite -- family caregivers most frequently request and say they need to go on and at the same time provide significant savings to our long-term care system. Prepared by National Respite Coalition. For more information, please contact Jill Kagan by phone at 703-256-9578.
You can get more specific details about the Lifespan Respite Care Act at http://chtop.org/ARCH/ARCH-National-Respite-Coalition.html .
The Lifespan Respite Care Act was signed into law in 2006, but has not received funding from Congress for its implementation. We can change that by urging Congress to include funding for the program in the FY09 Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bills that will soon be drafted by both the House and Senate. The law authorizes Congress to spend up to $53.3 million in FY09 and we are requesting the full authorized amount. Even if you have been urging funding for months, the process starts anew in 2008. The Lifespan Respite Care Act was passed by Congress in 2006 to make respite more accessible and affordable to family caregivers, regardless of age or disability, but to date, Congress has provided no funding ($0.00). We finally have an opportunity to provide the one service -- respite -- family caregivers most frequently request and say they need to go on and at the same time provide significant savings to our long-term care system. Prepared by National Respite Coalition. For more information, please contact Jill Kagan by phone at 703-256-9578.
You can get more specific details about the Lifespan Respite Care Act at http://chtop.org/ARCH/ARCH-National-Respite-Coalition.html .
Ask Your House Representative to sign onto this letter:
March XX, 2008
The Honorable David R. Obey
Chairman, Subcommittee on Labor,
Health & Human Services, and Education
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
2358-B Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable James T. Walsh
Ranking Member, Subcommittee Labor,
Health & Human Services, and Education
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Walsh:
As your Subcommittee prepares to mark up the Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Bill, we ask that the House include the fully authorized level of funding, $53.3 million, for the Lifespan Respite Care Act programs in FY 2009.
Chronic illnesses are the fastest-growing illnesses in our country today, and older adults are the fastest-growing population. Consequently, long-term care is increasingly important for our nation's health and constitutes a significant portion of Medicaid and Medicare spending. In 2005, approximately $207 billion was spent on professional long-term care services; 49 percent paid for by Medicaid and 20 percent paid for by Medicare. This is compared to the $137 billion spent on professional long-term care in 2000.
However, a substantial amount of our nation's long term care is voluntarily provided by family caregivers and is often unpaid. Family caregiving accounts for 80 percent of the overall long-term care provided in the United States, at a value of more than $300 billion annually.
Respite care, which provides temporary relief from continuous caregiving, decreases the likelihood of formal long-term care, resulting in significant savings for the health care system and taxpayers. Access to respite services has also been shown to help improve caregiver health and well-being, promote family stability, avoid or delay more costly out-of-home placements and reduce the likelihood of abuse and neglect.
In December 2006, Congress and the Administration sent a clear message of support to family caregivers with the enactment of the Lifespan Respite Care Act. Through competitive grants, the Lifespan Respite Care Act offers states the opportunity to expand access to respite care, improve local coordination of services and help families obtain information on respite provider options and payment plans.
Enactment of this legislation is the culmination of many years of bipartisan effort and will have a significant impact on our nation's caregivers. We look forward to working with you on ways to support the approximately 26 million family caregivers in the United States.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Ký thỉnh nguyện thưKý thỉnh nguyện thưMarch XX, 2008
The Honorable David R. Obey
Chairman, Subcommittee on Labor,
Health & Human Services, and Education
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
2358-B Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable James T. Walsh
Ranking Member, Subcommittee Labor,
Health & Human Services, and Education
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Walsh:
As your Subcommittee prepares to mark up the Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Bill, we ask that the House include the fully authorized level of funding, $53.3 million, for the Lifespan Respite Care Act programs in FY 2009.
Chronic illnesses are the fastest-growing illnesses in our country today, and older adults are the fastest-growing population. Consequently, long-term care is increasingly important for our nation's health and constitutes a significant portion of Medicaid and Medicare spending. In 2005, approximately $207 billion was spent on professional long-term care services; 49 percent paid for by Medicaid and 20 percent paid for by Medicare. This is compared to the $137 billion spent on professional long-term care in 2000.
However, a substantial amount of our nation's long term care is voluntarily provided by family caregivers and is often unpaid. Family caregiving accounts for 80 percent of the overall long-term care provided in the United States, at a value of more than $300 billion annually.
Respite care, which provides temporary relief from continuous caregiving, decreases the likelihood of formal long-term care, resulting in significant savings for the health care system and taxpayers. Access to respite services has also been shown to help improve caregiver health and well-being, promote family stability, avoid or delay more costly out-of-home placements and reduce the likelihood of abuse and neglect.
In December 2006, Congress and the Administration sent a clear message of support to family caregivers with the enactment of the Lifespan Respite Care Act. Through competitive grants, the Lifespan Respite Care Act offers states the opportunity to expand access to respite care, improve local coordination of services and help families obtain information on respite provider options and payment plans.
Enactment of this legislation is the culmination of many years of bipartisan effort and will have a significant impact on our nation's caregivers. We look forward to working with you on ways to support the approximately 26 million family caregivers in the United States.
Sincerely,
(signed)
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