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For many families across Tennessee, accessing medical care can be difficult. That’s why, after experiencing a hospitalization, many turn to home health services to receive support from the comfort of home. This option helps families keep their loved ones close and avoid the long, frequent drives to follow-up appointments that are common in our state’s most rural communities.
Home health is a patient-preferred, cost-effective option, yet Medicare funding for these services has declined in recent years. These pressures can make
it more difficult for providers to sustain access to the compassionate, individualized care Tennesseans rely on as they ageand recover from illness or injury. At the same time, the home-based care community remains committed to strengthening program integrity and ensuring resources are used appropriately, so providers can continue to effectively serve patients and families.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s support for home health services is an important step toward addressing these challenges. As a lead sponsor of the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act of 2026 (S. 5250), she is supporting efforts to stabilize Medicare payments to home health providers and strengthen program integrity.
Tennessee families deserve reliable access to quality care at home. I urge Congress to advance this bill to support responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and help ensure patients and families can continue to receive the care they need in the place they call home.
Cameron Lynch, Brentwood 37027
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Marsha Blackburn is improving access to home health care | Letters
