The Home Care Alliance is collecting written testimony and encouraging those interested to present oral testimony for upcoming hearings being hosted by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) on the upcoming Fiscal Year 2013 budget.
Indications have been made that the upcoming budget will be just as difficult as those in previous years so it is important that home care agencies show up and submit written comments to convey the significance and value of the services they provide. EOHHS is seeking input about the best ways to preserve core services to the fullest extent possible without additional expenditures. As such, the Alliance suggests that agencies promote work in care transitions, disease management, and the general value of keeping people independent at home. The Alliance is also pushing for MassHealth coverage of telehealth technology as well as legislation on nurse delegation of medication administration, which we encourage people testifying to include in their comments.
Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, M.D., and the Assistant Secretaries at EOHHS will be on hand for both hearings so comments should begin by addressing them accordingly. The two hearings will be held this week and next week at the following dates and locations:
Friday, December 2, 2011 from 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Department of Mental Health Western Massachusetts Area Office
Northampton Haskell Building
1 Prince Street
Northampton, MA 01061
Friday, December 9, 2011 from 2:00–6:00 p.m.
Agganis Arena at Boston University
Francis D. Burke Club Room
925 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215-1204
Due to the number of individuals anticipated to attend the hearings, oral testimony will be limited to three minutes per individual. In the interest of time, representative panels are welcome and will be limited to a total of five minutes of oral testimony. If a number of home care agencies are interested, they will be added to a panel as HCA will be attending and testifying at the Boston hearing on December 9th. HCA asks that you also inform us if you sign up to attend or submit written comments on your own.
If you need accommodations please call 617-573-1600 and let the receptionist know. Additionally, if you are planning to present oral testimony at the Boston hearing, please note that you must be in the building by no later than 5:50 p.m.
Written testimony can be sent to the Home Care Alliance to be submitted collectively, or may be mailed to:
Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, EOHHS
One Ashburton Place, Room 1109, Boston, MA 02108
Or emailed to: eohhshearings@massmail.state.ma.us
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