Harris proposes Medicare pay for home health care for first time

Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday proposed broadening Medicare benefits to cover home health care for the first time, as she seeks to appeal to Americans caring for both children and aging parents.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday proposed broadening Medicare benefits to cover home health care for the first time, as she seeks to appeal to Americans caring for both children and aging parents. “There are so many people in our country who are right in the middle. They’re taking care of their kids and they’re taking care of their aging parents, and it’s just almost impossible to do it all, especially if they work,” Harris said on ABC’s “The View,” part of a media blitz this week that’s putting her in front of friendlier interviewers with more targeted audiences. Harris, who has promised on the campaign trail to improve long-term care, said the proposal will allow aging Americans to keep their dignity and help families with the emotional, financial and physical burdens of caring for their elders. Nearly one-quarter of American adults are in the “sandwich generation,” which contains many remaining undecided voters, according to Harris campaign data. More than 105 million Americans are acting as caregivers, according to the campaign. “We’re finding that so many are then having to leave their job, which means losing a source of income, not to mention the emotional stress,” Harris said Tuesday. Covering home health care, however, could be very costly. Neither Harris nor her campaign provided details about the proposal, but the vice president said it would be paid for by expanding Medicare drug price negotiations. A campaign official said the cost would also be covered by increasing drug discounts from manufacturers and other measures.