Health Leaders Media: Study of Physicians Use of Home Health Services

A  survey conducted by the Massachusetts Medical Society in collaboration with the Home Care Alliance has shown that a vast majority of physicians believe home health care services provide multiple advantages in improving health care quality and reducing costs without compromising outcomes, but administrative burdens, reimbursement issues, and lack of access to the services are regarded as main barriers to using these services.

Health Leaders Media wrote a story on the study results that came out July 1st, an excerpt of which can be seen below. You can read the entire article by clicking here.

Slightly more than half of the doctors who responded to a physician survey in Massachusetts last fall said they kept patients in the hospital longer than necessary because of a lack of access to home health services, according to a new report.

But most of the doctors said they were aware that use of such agencies can safely reduce days of hospitalization and their cost as well as emergency room utilization, an increasing priority in the health reform agenda.

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Brockton Enterprise, Patriot Ledger: Home Care Champion

The Brockton Enterprise and Patriot Ledger of Quincy recognized Robert Dwyer who is the board treasurer for Norwell VNA and Hospice in their “mover & shakers” section.

Dwyer was given the “Home Care Champion” Award at the Alliance’s 2009 Spring Conference.

To see the announcement, click here.

Now in his 15th year on the board of the Norwell VNA, Mr. Dwyer had previously worked as a corporate counsel in the banking industry. When Medicare payment system changes were implemented, Mr. Dwyer personally advocated on the state and federal levels in opposition to inefficient business practices. Mr. Dwyer has also helped to guide Norwell VNA and Hospice through a merger and an expansion from a two-town agency to one that serves more than 20 communities on the South Shore.

Norwell VNA and Hospice Executive Director Meg Doherty added, “Through all of our changes, Bob has been a constant for NVNA and Hospice; ever present with his strong and supportive counsel, wise leadership and strong business ethics. He is a gentleman in every sense of the word and the epitome of a non-profit board member.”

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Tim Burgers of the Alliance Receives Achievement Award from ASAE

The below press announcement regarding the American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE) “Association Professional Achievement Award,” given to the Alliance’s Associate Director Timothy Burgers, was published in the Winthrop Transcript on June 18.

Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts Associate Director and Winthrop resident Timothy Burgers has received the Association Professional Achievement Award by the American Society of Association Executives for his 20 years of service for the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, a trade association that represents home health and home care agencies in the state.

“Tim has been an invaluable member of a team that may have changed during his 20 years, but the constant has been his leadership of and commitment to the organization and its goals,” said Home Care Alliance Executive Director Patricia Kelleher. “Tim has been an integral piece of maturing the Alliance from a small volunteer-driven organization to the fiscally sound and growing entity that exists today.”

The ASAE’s award is given to an association or nonprofit professional for exemplary service and outstanding accomplishments in management. Since the Alliance has been in existence for 40 years, Mr. Burgers’ tenure has spanned half of the organization’s time thus far. Mr. Burgers is responsible for all internal operations, financial management, human resources, technology development, member services, and general office management. His steady hand and management skills have guided the Home Care Alliance through three name changes, four office moves, the creation of a subsidiary non-profit Foundation and multiple by-law overhauls and revisions.

Under Mr. Burgers and Patricia Kelleher, the Alliance has reached 150 member agencies that employ more than 19,000 workers providing over 5 million home care visits each year to approximately 175,000 elderly, mentally ill and otherwise infirm Massachusetts residents.

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Boston Globe, South Edition: Randolph Caregiver Honored

The Boston Globe, South edition ran a story on Tama Lewis, a home health aide from Visiting Angels of Newton, who was given the “Aide of the Year” Award from the Home Care Alliance at their 2009 Spring Conference.

Click here to see the article on Tama and her great work for Visiting Angels.

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Enterprise/Patriot Ledger: Aide of the Year

The Brockton Enterprise and Patriot Ledger (Quincy) recognized a home health aide from Visiting Angels in their “Movers and Shakers” section.

Tama Lewis of Randolph was named “Home Health Aide of the Year” by the Alliance at their 2009 Spring Conference.

Click here to read the announcement.

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Legislators Announce Release of Private Home Care Services Directory

The Malden Observer published an announcement from State Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei and Representatives Christopher Fallon, Paul Donato and Stephen “Stat” Smith regarding the publication of the Home Care Alliance’s 2009 Guide to Private Home Care Services.

The directory provides a listing of reputatble, professional home care providers in Massachusetts by town and county as well as valuable information on how to choose and pay for home care.

Click here to see the announcement and visit the publications page on our website to learn more about the Private Home Care Guide and the Alliance’s other helpful and informative publications.

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Letter to the Editor: Two distinct Categories of Workers

Alliance Executive Director Pat Kelleher submitted a letter to the editor of the Boston Globe regarding a March 28 article that “blurred the line” between home health aides and personal care attendants. See an excerpt as well as a link to the entire letter below.

I AM concerned that your March 28 front-page story, “Costs, concerns rise on home healthcare,” blurred the line for some readers between two categories of workers: home health aides and personal care attendants. This confusion would do a disservice to the home health industry and the many clients – mostly frail and homebound elders – who depend on these essential services.

Click here to see the letter on Boston.com.

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NAHC Calls on Agencies to Act, Oppose Cuts

The Alliance urges it’s members to get involved in federal advocacy given a recent announcement in the NAHC Report. The US House of Representatives has recently released a draft health care reform bill that would cut the Medicare home health benefit by $51 billion over 10 years. Read the pared down and edited except from NAHC Report below to see what you can do.

The message to bring to lawmakers is, “I support the goal of health care for all. However, the goal should not come at the expense of frail elderly and disabled homebound Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services. Home health services preserve independence, keep families together, and save Medicare dollars by keeping Medicare beneficiaries out of hospitals and nursing homes. Please oppose the proposal to cut home health care.”

A. Calling Members of Congress. You can communicate your concerns to their staff in local or Washington, D.C. offices by phone. When calling, ask the receptionist to connect you with the staffer who handles Medicare issues. To find out the name of your representative, click here.

Continue reading “NAHC Calls on Agencies to Act, Oppose Cuts”

Alliance Submits Comments on Rate Cut Study Bill

In response to MassHealth’s 20 percent rate cut to skilled nursing visits past 60 days of care – administered as part of the Governor’s 9c cuts –  the Alliance filed legislation that would instruct the Executive Office of Health & Human Services to study the issue and then would establish a special commission to review those findings.

At a public hearing in front of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on Wednesday, June 24, the Alliance submitted written testimony in support of this legislative priority, titled House Bill 1072, An Act Ordering a Study of Home Health Service Rate Cuts.  The Alliance also enclosed letters from State Senate Majority Leader Frederick Berry and State Representative Christine Canavan written to the Division of Health Care Finance & Policy in late January when they held a public hearing on the rate cut, which took effect on December 1, 2008.

The bill was filed by State Representative Sean Garballey, who offered remarks at the recent public hearing. Rep. Garballey also circulated a sign on letter in opposition to the cuts, which was signed by 18 fellow legislators, and sent to Governor Deval Patrick.

To see the Alliance’s testimony on House Bill 1072, click here.

To learn more about the Alliance’s legislative priorities, please contact us or visit our News & Advocacy page.

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2009 Annual Report Available

The Alliance’s 2009 Annual Report is now available on the publications page of our website.

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