WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, Senator Bob Casey, chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The issue at hand was the vexing concerns about reported abuse and care issues associated with Papa Inc.
For those unfamiliar with the company, Papa Inc. provides senior citizens with a caregiver to assist with everyday non-medical tasks. Tasks like grocery shopping, medical transportation, and prescription assistance. However, recent allegations of sexual harassment and assault regarding the company’s customers and caregivers have surfaced. Amid these troubling reports, Senator Casey sought to understand how the CMS is ensuring that Papa Inc., a significant partner with health plans, is not delivering subpar or abusive care while receiving federal funding.
The senator’s actions come from a place of concern. He highlighted, “As demand for home care services that enable older adults and people with disabilities to live at home continues to increase, service providers, insurers, and CMS must ensure that Medicare and Medicaid enrollees receive safe and high-quality home care.”
The questionable actions of Papa Inc. aren’t a new concern for Senator Casey. In July of the previous year, he pressed the company to ensure that both caregivers and care recipients were not at risk of abuse. His current letter also requested that CMS provide details on its oversight processes for businesses, such as Papa Inc., that offer supplemental services to Medicare and Medicaid enrollees.
The letter delved into troubling allegations about the lack of quality in Papa Inc.’s services and instances of their workers abusing customers. Papa Inc., which operates in all 50 states, offers its services, facilitated via the website, a mobile application, email exchanges, and a call-in service, primarily as an additional health plan benefit. The company has reportedly partnered with over 65 health plans, including Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans, to make its services available to beneficiaries.
The company’s services, provided by workers known as ‘Papa Pals,’ include grocery shopping, pet care, light household chores, and transportation. Additionally, they remind customers about health-related tasks, such as having their eyes checked or taking their medication. Despite these seemingly beneficial services, Senator Casey expressed concerns about the adequacy of Papa’s vetting process, as caregivers are only required to pass a background check and not required to have healthcare experience or training.
Recent reports have revealed more than 1,200 confidential complaints against Papa Inc. over the past four years. These complaints encompass harassment of both clients and caregivers, allegations of sexual harassment and assault, reports of theft, and unsafe work environments.
The discussion on Papa Inc. sheds light on one of the broader issues at hand. As the demand for home care services consistently rise, it is increasingly crucial for CMS, service providers, and insurers to ensure the safety and quality of home care provision. It has to be a priority that caregivers are treated with dignity and respect.
Ultimately, the matter goes beyond Papa Inc. Senator Casey’s actions strive to better understand how CMS oversees the financing, provision, and utilization of supplemental benefits. He stresses the importance of ensuring that Medicare and Medicaid enrollees receive high-quality care, free from abuse. Only then, according to the senator, can we ensure that Medicare and Medicaid are delivering the appropriate value for taxpayer dollars.
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