President Biden’s administration is expanding healthcare for homeless individuals by allowing doctors and nurses to treat them anywhere. This marks a significant shift in how and where healthcare is delivered. Previously, these providers were not getting paid by most Medicaid programs because the services were not delivered in traditional medical facilities.
Starting from October 1st, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began permitting public and private insurers to pay street medicine providers for medical services they deliver wherever homeless people might be staying. This change comes as a response to the increasing number of homeless individuals in the country, as well as the rising need for intensive addiction and mental health treatment in addition to medical care.
The new rule allows doctors, nurses, and other providers to get reimbursed for treating patients in non-permanent street locations. This recognition by the federal government legitimizes the streets as a place to provide healthcare. The primary beneficiaries of this rule will be low-income, disabled, and older people on Medicaid and Medicare.
Valerie Arkoosh, the secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services, expressed enthusiasm about the change, stating that routine medical treatments and preventive care can now be provided wherever homeless individuals are located.
California led the way when its state Medicaid director approved a new billing mechanism for treating homeless people in various settings. Hawaii and Pennsylvania followed suit. While there are already street medicine programs in cities like Boston and Fort Worth, Texas, the new reimbursement rule will allow more healthcare providers and states to offer these services.
Advocates for street medicine argue that by expanding primary and specialty care on the streets, they can interrupt the cycle of homelessness and reduce the strain on emergency services. Additionally, some street medicine teams are helping individuals transition from the streets into permanent housing.
The Biden administration has set an ambitious goal of reducing homelessness in America by 25% by 2025. Legislation is currently pending in Congress to further expand reimbursement for street medicine, focusing on the mental health and addiction crisis among the homeless population.
With nearly 600,000 homeless individuals in America, this expansion of healthcare services is crucial. The average life expectancy for homeless people is 48, significantly lower than the overall life expectancy of 76 in the United States. By recognizing the importance of providing healthcare to homeless individuals wherever they may be, the Biden administration seeks to improve the health outcomes and overall well-being of this vulnerable population.
