Bipartisan Support Elusive for Luján's Home-Based Care Bill Amid Medicaid Cuts

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján's Home and Community Based Services Relief Act aims to ease the burden on family caregivers by providing a 10 percentage point increase in federal spending on home- and community-based services for Medicaid recipients. The bill is one of several proposed by Democratic senators to counter the Republicans' One Big, Beautiful Bill, which would reduce Medicaid appropriations by nearly $700 billion by 2034. Luján argues his bill should garner bipartisan support, but the proposal faces an uncertain future as the Senate considers the sweeping spending measure.

Key Takeaways:

  • U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján introduced the Home and Community Based Services Relief Act to provide a 10 percentage point increase in federal spending on home- and community-based services for Medicaid recipients.
  • The bill is co-sponsored by fellow New Mexican U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and aims to improve the delivery of care, including expanding programs, providing better pay and working conditions to caregivers, and paying for assistive technologies, training, and supplies.
  • Luján's bill is part of a handful of proposed legislation by Democratic senators to counter the Republicans' One Big, Beautiful Bill's proposed spending cuts to Medicaid.
  • The One Big, Beautiful Bill has already passed the U.S. House and is now being considered in the Senate, with President Donald Trump aiming to have it on his desk by July 4.
  • Luján's legislation is meant to alleviate the burden on family caregivers, which he believes should garner bipartisan support in the face of the Republicans' proposed cuts.
  • The Home and Community Based Services Relief Act specifically targets home health services, behavioral health services, personal care services, and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
  • New Mexico officials and local providers have warned that the Medicaid cuts proposed by the Republics' bill could be disastrous for patients and providers alike.

Statistics:

  • The One Big, Beautiful Bill proposes to reduce Medicaid appropriations by nearly $700 billion by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
  • The Home and Community Based Services Relief Act aims to provide a 10 percentage point increase in federal spending on home- and community-based services for Medicaid recipients.
  • The bill is expected to improve the delivery of care, including expanding programs, providing better pay and working conditions to caregivers, and paying for assistive technologies, training, and supplies.

Sources:

  • Ben Ray Luján, U.S. Sen., "Home and Community Based Services Relief Act" (introduced during a news conference)
  • Luján, as quoted in the SF New Mexican: "It's beautiful if you're a billionaire or a very wealthy person. For everybody else, this is an ugly mess, and it comes at the expense of everybody else in America."
  • Congressional Budget Office, "One Big, Beautiful Bill" (report on proposed spending cuts to Medicaid)