MS should channel funds saved from fraud back into home care, Stabenow, Totaro argue

Recently retired Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and Dave Totaro, former BAYADA chief government affairs officer, are excited to bring their healthcare expertise and talents to the bipartisan Liberty Partners Group. Reimbursement challenges for the field are nothing new, they said. What keeps Totaro up at night is the dwindling number of home health agencies. There are 10% fewer agencies today than in 2013, he said. Stabenow is pleased with the progress that took place last year with the 2026 home health final rule, which marked the end of permanent adjustments. Now Liberty Partners is working with the administration to help restore home health funding to 2020 levels when the Patient-Driven Groupings Model began. It also is urging the administration to use verifiable data to fight fraud in home health and hospice. Given the harsh Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 2026 and 2027 promise to be some of the toughest years financially for the field, Totaro said. He also expects home health to experience cuts for 2027 and does not think any major home care legislation will pass before the midterms. Follow us on social media: X: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare Show contributors:McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger; Debbie Stabenow, senior policy adviser at Liberty Partners Group; and Dave Totaro, principal at Liberty Partners Group Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.