In May nearly 500 home care providers converged on Washington, DC, to learn from our industry leaders and home care advocates. The National Association for Home Care (NAHC) and its affiliates, including the Home Healthcare Nurses Association (HHNA), met and shared PPS, regulatory, legislative, and information services updates.
The highlight of the 4-day policy conference was hearing from the Senators and Representatives who advocate for our home care patients. Besides their support of eliminating the 15% cut scheduled for October 2002, they shared their thoughts about regulatory reform, nursing staffing, Medicare reform, and the budget. This information can be useful when visiting our state representatives. The key issues shared follow:
Susan Collins (R-ME) has always been one of home care's passionate advocates and stated in her remarks: "I have no other priority than to block the 15% cut!" She stressed her belief that home care had given back enough and reminded everyone of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) projections of a $16 billion savings compared to the reality of $72 billion cut from home care since the BBA.
Although concerned about the tight Federal budget she does not feel home care can be part of any further reduction because, "home care has been cut more than any other service." Sen. Collins supports Medicare reform to include home health restoration and the provision of a prescription benefit.
John Breaux (D-LA) continues to support the Med-PAC recommendation to stabilize home care reimbursement despite the GAO recently reporting that home care agencies are making a 37% profit since PPS! He also supports the full market basket increase but feels copays may be in home care's future.
Sen. Breaux stated that Medicare is currently only covering 47% of the beneficiaries healthcare needs and is substandard to private insurance policies. He feels that long term-care policies are essential and should include home health benefits: "...with an aging generation and longer life expectancies we must insure that appropriate care is available to the fastest growing segment of the population."
Karen L. Thurman (D-FL) is concerned about the paperwork that overwhelms home care clinicians and advocates spending healthcare resources on patient care, not paperwork. She supports Medicare reform that includes long-term care options and a prescription plan.
Phil English (R-PA) told the conference that when our legislators voice concern over limited budgeted dollars we should remind them that Medicare is derived from "earmarked funds" and not from the general fund. He fully believes that home health saves healthcare revenue and has asked that agencies show home care's savings not just the cost. He also supports Medicare reform and wants a prescription plan without cuts in other current Medicare services.
W. J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-LA) introduced key items in the Medicare Modernization Act including a prescription coverage plan, improving private health plans and making them more competitive, making the "right" payment changes, giving home health its 15% back, and giving physicians their 5% back.
Rep. Tauzin is currently the Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is responsible for many healthcare issues. He challenged the committee to examine this legislation from the viewpoint of a patient to help them focus on patient issues and priorities.
Washington heard from many home care supporters in May; there remains a strong sentiment that agencies will not have to endure further revenue instability. However, the battle is far from over. Our presence needs to be ongoing and sustaining. Current legislation is being developed on Medicare and regulatory reform and it is critical that we advise and express our concerns...for our patients and for ourselves.