Every year throughout Pennsylvania, homecare nurses, therapists and aides drive more than 70 million miles to provide critical care and support in the homes of thousands of older and disabled Pennsylvanians. To put this mileage in perspective, consider that the Earth's average distance to the moon is 239 thousand miles. That's 146 trips to the moon and back.
Rising gasoline prices are having a dramatic affect on homecare agencies. Gasoline prices rose from $2.35(1) a gallon this past August to $3.15(1) per gallon this September, which represents a $260,000 or 34 percent increase in gasoline costs for homecare workers, who usually pay out-of pocket for gasoline and then are reimbursed. On average, homecare nurses making five house calls a day will travel 260 miles a week. In 2004, homecare nurses spent about $27 a week for fuel, but this year they will spend $45 a week.
This poses a crisis for agencies providing in-home care to 52,000 individuals each day across Pennsylvania. These services make it possible for older Pennsylvanians, who would otherwise have to go into a nursing home, to stay at home.
"The increase of gas prices over the past year, particularly in the past few months, is threatening to cripple homecare agencies' ability to deliver valuable care so people may remain at home," said Vicki Hoak, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association.
"While the federal government responded quickly with an increase in the allowable IRS rate for employee mileage reimbursement, this does not address the rising cost to the agency.
"Unlike many other industries affected by the rising gas prices, agencies providing in-home care are unable to recover these additional costs. Medicare, which is the largest payer for home health services, and Medicaid, which pays for services for low-income individuals, have not increased their reimbursement despite growing costs."
To address this, PHA has sent a letter asking the Department of Public Welfare to consider a temporary mileage add-on to the regular homecare reimbursement to ensure continuation of critical in-home care. Considering this Administration's commitment to rebalancing the long-term care system, establishing a mileage add-on would demonstrate a strong commitment to continuing with these initiatives. In addition, PHA is exploring other options to ease the financial burden.
The Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) is headquartered just outside of Harrisburg, PA. PHA represents more than 300 member agencies that deliver care and support directly in the homes of more than a million elderly and disabled citizens in the state of Pennsylvania. To learn more about homecare visit the PHA website at http://www.pahomecare.org/.
