WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of National Family Caregivers Month, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act, legislation that would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Social Security Administration (SSA), and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to review their eligibility, processes, procedures, forms, and communications to reduce the administrative burden on family caregivers. The legislation would then annually require CMS, SSA and CHIP to report to Congress about any issues they are facing and any next steps they are taking to support family caregivers.

“As a caregiver for my parents during their struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, I know personally the level of responsibility put on family caregivers and the burdens, which can be created by federal process and procedure,” Senator Capito said. “Caregivers in West Virginia and across our country put family first and balance multiple priorities at once, which is why we must do all we can to alleviate roadblocks that could delay and even prohibit them from receiving the support they need. I’m proud to introduce the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act, which will help accomplish this goal by easing the administrative burdens many of our family caregivers face.”

“When my mother suffered from Alzheimer’s, my father was her caregiver in our home in Malden,” Senator Markey said. “Caregivers serve on the frontlines of our nation’s health care system by giving our families and friends the care and support they need to remain in their homes and communities with their loved ones. However, our aging and disabled community members can’t get the care they need if their caregivers – the backbone of their treatment – are struggling to navigate complex, burdensome, and stressful processes each and every day while also still managing day-to-day family and professional responsibilities. The Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act will help lift the weight off caregivers by clearing the red tape that so often gets in their way.”

The Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act is cosponsored by Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Full text of the legislation is available here.

BACKGROUND:

Family caregivers serve as a primary source of support for seniors and people with disabilities of all ages. In the United States, there are more than 48 million family caregivers, with 250,000 in West Virginia alone. More than half of family caregivers act as an advocate for their loved one with care providers, community services, or government agencies. However, one-in-four family caregivers have said they want help with forms, paperwork and eligibility for services. Many report competing responsibilities while experiencing serious emotional, physical, and finance challenges.

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