Thursday, January 13, 2011, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recommended an out-of-pocket charge for home health care services, this s a service that until now has been free of charge to the patients. Lawmakers are looking to cut health care spending to help get control of federal deficits. The panel did not set forth an amount but its staff has suggested the charge to be $150 for a series of related visits. The AARP seniors lobby opposes this new plan.