The need for family caregiver support in our Commonwealth is dire. My staff and I have personally heard from numerous constituents who have had to make drastic changes to their lives to afford to provide proper care for their loved ones. Most recently, my office provided notary services for a woman forced to divorce her husband so that she could then qualify to become his caregiver.
 
In 2023, across the United States, over five million people received home and community-based care through Medicaid. Unfortunately, under federal regulation spouses are considered to be “legally responsible individuals” and cannot be paid for providing care that they are already obligated to provide due to their relationship to the care receiver. However, as a remedy, the federal government allows states to apply for waivers to put aside federal rules for institutional care and provide services beyond those covered by Medicaid. Pennsylvanians needing care deserve to have the option of their spouse, or legally responsible relative, as their caregiver in their own home without having to make monumental financial sacrifices.
 
For this reason, I am introducing legislation that would require the Department of Human Services to submit a waiver application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to permit payments for extraordinary personal care services that are provided by a person’s legally responsible relative.
 
Please consider joining me and co-sponsoring this much needed legislation that would provide caregivers with the resources they deserve for taking care of their loved ones.