US Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) has filed a bill that would require Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security officials to review and recommend changes to regulations affecting family caregivers.
Family caregivers are individuals having a significant relationship with, and providing assistance to, an individual with a chronic or other health condition, disability, or functional limitation.
Caregivers are generally eligible to receive assistance in their caregiving duties through social security programs such as medicare and medicaid.
However, according to Representative Cammack, bureaucratic red tape has been delaying family caregivers’ aid requests.
Cammack’s Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act (ABC Act) aims to reduce inefficient regulatory hurdles from family caregivers’ interactions with social security programs.
The ABC Act would help reduce red tape for family caregivers) by requiring relevant government agencies review the eligibility determination and application processes, procedures, forms, and communications to reduce administrative challenges for caregivers.
"America's family caregivers work around-the-clock to provide essential care for their loved ones, and over half—56 percent—act as advocates on behalf of their family members. The last thing these caregivers need is more red tape that distracts from their support for those in their care," said Rep. Kat Cammack.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), 65.7 million Americans (or 29 percent of the adult U.S. adult population and 31 percent of all households) served as family caregivers for an ill or disabled relative.
The ABC Act would require relevant agencies send Congress a report of their findings and a remedy plan to streamline the policies and procedures within a year of the bill's enactment.
Cammack’s bill has received bipartisan support.
Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI), supported the ABC Act as he believes it will “cut through bureaucratic red tape to provide caregivers with the support they deserve."
In the Senate, the ABC Act is being led by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ed Markey (D-MA).
