In an executive session, the legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing reported out S.860, An Act Relative to Home Health Aides favorably. It is not yet determined where the legislation will progress to, but the proposal is still very much alive and moving forward. Stay tuned on how to keep the momentum going!
The Home Care Alliance’s legislative briefing on the bill was well attended by HCA members, representatives from supporting organizations and legislative staff.
Senator Richard Moore, the legislation’s sponsor, welcomed attendees and presented an overview of the issue of “nurse delegation” as seen from his perspective as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. His remarks are available on HCA’s YouTube page.
HCA Executive Director Patricia Kelleher continued on Senator Moore’s thoughts and introduced Margo Bourne from the VNA of Boston who spoke about a specific patient case where nurse delegation would be a huge benefit. Rigney Cunningham from the Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA also presented the hospice side of nurse delegation and how removing the barrier to allow aides to administer certain medications would mean better delivery of hospice services.
The featured speaker for the event was William Ditto, Director of Disability Services for New Jersey’s Department of Human Services. New Jersey is running a Nurse Delegation Pilot Program and he spoke about some of the successes, progress and speed bumps that have been a part of that experience. A few thoughts from Mr. Ditto are also available on HCA’s YouTube page.
Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.
Think Home Care Blog 