Reductions in home care reimbursements in FY2024 and their impact

Reductions in home care reimbursements in FY2024 and their impact

The reduction in home-visit care fees implemented in FY2024 is having a serious impact on the nursing care field. Specifically, there have been reports of a 10% reduction in home-visit care fees, resulting in an annual decrease of several million yen in income for nursing care facilities. In some areas, particularly in rural areas, the reduction in fees has put pressure on business operations, resulting in staff reductions of 10% or more. Service reductions and widening regional disparities are also evident, with some users reportedly having their number of visits reduced from five to three times per month. Home-visit care services are an important pillar of support for the home lives of the elderly and disabled, but they are increasingly being criticized as a policy that puts both users and service providers at a disadvantage. The government is required to revise its policies to reflect the voices of the frontline by securing nursing care personnel and optimizing compensatio
n.