William Walker is pictured with his parents Christina and Aaron. The Walkers are looking for an in-home nurse so that they can finally bring William home.
Just like many new parents across South Carolina and the US, Christina and Aaron Walker are excited to bring their newborn baby boy–William–home from the hospital. But unlike most other new parents, they can’t. That’s because William was born a little more than three months early, with medical complications.
But it’s not the complications themselves that have restricted William to the NICU–but rather, the lack of in-home nurses in the state. Baby William is medically cleared to go home, but the hospital cannot discharge him until an in-home nurse is available to care for him at the Walkers’ Bradley residence.
“The State hasn’t increased funding for the Private Duty Nursing (PDN) program in more than a decade. As a result, agencies that hire and provide in-home nurses to families like the Walkers can’t recruit and retain enough nurses to keep up with the demand,” says BAYADA Government Affairs Director for South Carolina Melissa Allman.
In the past decade, costs of living have gone up tremendously, and so home care agencies are struggling to pay nurses fair wages and stay sustainable as the funding has stagnated. PDN program funding must cover nurses’ wages–plus training, benefits, supervision, and supplies. Rates are so low, that many agencies have even left the state entirely.
Moreover, nurses are attracted to institutions and other settings–such as nursing homes, hospitals, and doctors’ offices–where they can earn more in wages. “The backwards part is that the state can save money and keep families together by keeping medically-complex residents at home and out of institutions. It’s a win-win,” says Melissa.
Christina and Aaron are celebrating every milestone that William reaches in the hospital. At five months, they are more than ready to take their baby boy home. Children deserve to grow up at home among their peers and loved ones. But if the state does not address PDN program funding in a way that ensures agencies can stay sustainable and raise nurses’ wages, then there will be more cases like William’s, where parents must continue to visit the NICU or another facility to see their son or daughter.
Read more about William’s journey here. If you know of a qualified nurse that is interested in caring for William, contact BAYADA Home Health Care at 864-448-5000. If you would like to learn about ways in which you can advocate for better nursing wages in South Carolina or elsewhere, contact Hearts for Home Care at advocacy@bayada.com
Lacy and her primary caregiver–her grandmother–rely on in-home nurses to keep Lacy safe and comfortable at home
Lacy is a three-year-old diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and chronic respiratory failure living with a tracheostomy and feeding tube. Lacy and her family rely on skilled nurses to provide continuous hands-on care so that she can avoid hospitalization and stay where she belongs – at home.
“I don’t know what I’d do without my nurses,” says Lacy’s grandmother – her primary caregiver following the murder of her daughter when Lacy was in utero, “They’re my lifeline.”
Although Lacy receives services under the NC’s Private Duty Nursing (PDN) program, she doesn’t get all the coverage for which she qualifies and needs because nurses are difficult to recruit and retain. Open shifts are common in PDN due to Medicaid’s low reimbursement rate. Lacy’s grandmother had to quit her job in order to take care of her, and nursing coverage is only enough so that she can get sleep and perhaps run an errand.
Hearts for Home Care advocates are serving as a voice for home care clients like Lacy, and for family members who are impacted by the lack of nurses like her grandmother. To encourage state and federal legislators to support higher wages for in-home caregivers and increase vulnerable residents’ access to services, you can make a difference! Learn about ways you can participate in advocacy through our website, or by emailing advocacy@bayada.com today!
BAYADA client Jim Davies (center, seated) hosted a home visit with Assemblyman Benson (upper left)
When BAYADA Home Health Care client Jim Davies received a notice in the mail last year that his insurance would be transitioning to another agency, he tried not to panic. After all, the letter stated there would be no change, he would still receive coverage for his home health care nursing and personal care home health aide services.
However, Jim was not convinced. The 66-year-old, who
suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of a diving accident 20 years ago, is
nearly paralyzed from the neck down. He relies on his nurses for his complex
medical needs, which include wound care, range of motion exercises, mechanical
transfers to and from bed, medication administration, catheter care, and care
to prevent a serious complication called autonomic dysreflexia, which can lead
to seizures, stroke, or even death.
As a former sheriff and local fire commissioner, Jim is used
to working collaboratively with others to make things happen. That’s why he
immediately called a case manager at the insurance company, who reiterated what
was explained in the letter, his home health care coverage would not change.
Coverage
denied
Fast forward
to the end of the year when Jim received another letter, this time from the new
insurance company. Despite written and verbal assurance that his coverage would
not change, the new company denied his home health care services, insisting Jim
was stable enough and no longer needed nursing care.
Jim reached out to his BAYADA Mercer County Adults (MCA) office Director Meghan Hansen and Clinical Manager Sharon Wheelock who appealed the decision on his behalf, to no avail. That’s when they turned to BAYADA Government Affairs Area Director Louise Lindenmeier, who suggested Jim reach out to New Jersey Assemblyman Daniel Benson, a member of the state Health and Senior Services Committee.
Legislative
home visit leads to positive change
“When I
called Assemblyman Benson’s office, I wasn’t sure what the response was going
to be, but I was pleasantly surprised,” says Jim. “The assemblyman made me feel
that as his constituent, my problem was a major concern, and he owned it.”
Assemblyman
Benson visited Jim and his wife of 40 years Rosemary at their home to witness,
first-hand, the critical role home care nurses play in Jim’s health and
well-being. During the visit, Assemblyman Benson also learned about the
catastrophic medical consequences of stopping Jim’s nursing care and BAYADA’s
unsuccessful efforts to appeal the denial from the insurance company.
Following the visit with Jim, Assemblyman Benson jumped into action. He joined BAYADA Managed Care (MCO) Director Pamela Soni, BAYADA Area Director for Pediatrics Managed Care (MCP) Stephanie Perna, and Louise for a meeting with the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance to discuss Jim’s case. In addition, he personally contacted the insurance company to negotiate the contract, resulting in a reversal of the denial. Thanks to his efforts, the issue was resolved within two weeks.
“It is
really important to educate politicians on how insurance changes can impact
their constituents,” says Jim, who encourages others in similar situations to
reach out to legislators who may be more than willing to help. “Assemblyman
Benson should be recognized for his prompt and professional response to my
needs.”
Assemblyman
Benson considered it a privilege to play a role in helping Jim. “It was my
honor to work with Mr. Davies to ensure that he received the care he needs and
deserves,” he says. “As legislators, it is our sworn duty to represent our
constituents, and that means lending our assistance whenever possible, whether
by simply cutting through red tape or elevating a situation to a higher level
so that it is promptly addressed. I would encourage those in need to reach out
to their elected representatives to learn what they can do for them.”
Want to Help Make a Difference: Register
for Hearts for Home Care
Whether you can give a minute, an hour, or a day, there are many ways to get involved in advocacy. It can be as simple as sending a pre-written email to your local legislators, hosting a legislator in your home, or attending an event at a legislator’s office or your state capitol.To learn more, consider becoming a “Heart for Home Care” advocate. It only takes five minutes to register at heartsforhomecare.com. You’ll receive email updates about current issues and opportunities to make your voice heart.
Brandon Stone (center, seated) has been able to grow up at home among his parents and siblings due to home care nursing. Turning 21 has threatened his ability to continue with that care.
For most people, turning 21 is a milestone to celebrate. But
the State of Rhode Island is putting undue pressure on medically complex Rhode
Islanders who are turning 21. For those who receive home care services under Medicaid,
such as the Katie Beckett waiver, their medical coverage changes on their 21st
birthday, which affects who pays for their services, the types of services
available to them, and their state-authorized hours and funding levels. Without
proper planning and communication,
these changes can result in uncertainly of continuity of care and access to
home care services.
For young adults like Zach, Corinna, Brandon, and their families, turning 21 has been a source of significant stress and uncertainty rather than the celebration it deserves to be. Upon “aging out” of Medicaid, they have received word from the state that their care would be changing without much warning. Parents of medically complex individuals tend to be lifelong advocates on behalf of their children, and so all three have been able to retain their services on a month-to-month basis. “This is just a band-aid that covers the issue,” says BAYADA Home Health Care’s Government Affairs Director Ashley Sadlier. “Each month, they don’t know whether that band-aid will stay on or get ripped off. Everyone deserves to stay at home if it’s their wish to do so, and it’s arbitrary that a birthday is basically a penalization in Rhode Island.”
The interesting fact is that the State has already created a policy stating that home care children and their families are to be educated on their options by the age of 17. But Rhode Island has not upheld its end of the bargain: Families find that they receive little to no communication from the State, and that when they reach out to find out their children’s care options, the State is slow to respond and typically unable to provide proactive guidance to help families navigate this change . “Modern medicine and advances in home care have allowed for many children to live past the age of 21. That should be a reason to celebrate, not a reason to cut an individual’s services off suddenly,” says Corinna’s mother Michelle. “Home care saves the state money, and it keeps families together. Why would you put a child in danger when it’s clear that home care has enabled them to live their best life?”
Families, home care providers, and and other organizations across the state are currently working with the State to identify a solution. Without home care, clients stand a greater risk of infection, hospitalization, or even a permanent move to a skilled nursing facility. Parents know that a child doesn’t stop being your child when they reach adulthood, but it’s time that Rhode Island recognize this as well.
Home care clients like Rashad (right) can stay at home with skilled nursing care, but a lack of state funding is making it more difficult for many South Carolinians
The facts are clear: Home care is less expensive than
hospital or other institutional care. Plus, it enables medically complex
children and adults to remain at home amongst their loved ones. But because the
State of South Carolina has not increased reimbursement rates for skilled
nursing home care services since 2008, families are finding it increasingly
harder to access the skilled, high quality care that they need to stay as
independent as possible in their communities.
State funding for home care has not been increased in more
than a decade. At the same time, hospitals and other facilities have been
steadily able to increase wages. Even more so, nurses can make more in home
care in surrounding states. Now, home care providers find that they can compete
for less than a quarter of all the nurses available in South Carolina. When
agencies face such recruitment and retention struggles, home care recipients and
their families suffer.
When there are less home care nurses available, families
find that they experience missed shifts, which can not only create undue stress
and chaos as loved ones must miss work, lose out on sleep, and forego other necessary
activities—but it also puts the client in danger. For those who need skilled
nursing care, missed shifts can mean dangerous consequences, including trips to
the ER and unnecessary hospitalizations.
Even more so, many major home care providers have already
left South Carolina because of the low funding for home care. Stagnant rates
that are more than a decade old make keeping their doors open unsustainable. As
more and more agencies leave the state, the harder it is for families to access
care. Simply put, if the State does not take action to increase funding for
home care, South Carolina’s most medically complex and vulnerable families will
have few options for care.
South Carolina’s concerned families are making their voices
heard: They are reaching out to their legislators and media to share their
message: Increase funding for home health care so that families can access the
high quality, reliable care that they need to be where they want to be: At
home.
To find out how you can get involved in advocacy, contact us
at advocacy@bayada.com today.
Indiana families like the Goellers are struggling to access the in-home nursing care they need to keep their medically-complex children safe at home
Indiana moms are coming out to share their message with State
decisionmakers: “Help us access the nursing care we need!” Recently, RTV6—Indianapolis’s
ABC affiliate—aired coverage of mom Annie and her daughter Emma. Emma, and
more than 14,000 like her across the state, rely on skilled nursing to live safely
at home, but often struggle to access it. The State has until June 30 to make a
decision to help alleviate families’ struggles by increasing funding for state
programs that pay for in-home nursing coverage.
The issue lies in State funding for programs that allow
families like the Goellers to access the skilled in-home nursing they need.
Because nurses can make more money in hospitals, rehab centers, and other
facilities, nurses are more attracted to those settings rather than home care.
The constant turnover creates a revolving door of nurses. In the past six
years, Emma, who has cerebral palsy, has had dozens of different nurses. “I
would say probably at least 20 or 25,” said mom Annie.
Such turnover means that Emma doesn’t see reliable, consistent
nursing coverage, which puts her at risk. For many families, this also means
that shifts are missed and parents must bear the burden of providing care. Lack
of sleep, calling out of work, and being unable to care for other family
members are all unintended consequences that come from the lack of skilled
in-home nurses.
No child deserves to grow up in a hospital or facility, and
no parent deserves to be an untrained nurse for their child. When we unite our
voices in advocacy, we can make sure that our message is heard and that decision-makers
and key influencers are aware of the issues that they have the power to make changes
on. Contact advocacy@bayada.com to
learn about how you can share your story and make an impact today.
ACSP Clients Jessie and Marie, and the impact their caregivers Indira and Marie make in their lives
HHA Indira (right) has made monumental changes in Jessie’s life
GAO and many other advocates are fighting for increased funding for New Jersey’s Personal Care Assistant (PCA) program. This program enables thousands of vulnerable New Jersey residents stay at home, and we are hoping that our advocacy efforts lead to fairer wages for caregivers like Indira and Michele.
Indira & Jessie
Indira is at Jessie’s home every morning at 5:00 without fail. After taking on Jessie’s case and learning that she spent most of her time in bed, it became Indira’s mission to consistently challenge her to get out of bed and get active. Now, every morning before dawn, Jessie starts her morning with a smile, anxiously waiting for Indira to arrive.
While helping Jessie, who is 31 and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, with her activities of daily living, Indira also incorporates games, crafts, dancing, and singing. After a few short months with her beloved caregiver, Jessie now has a newfound confidence in her physical abilities and communication and language skills. Indira has quickly ingrained herself as part of Jessie’s family, whose loved ones call Indira “a Godsend.”
Marie &
Michele
CHHA Michele (left) is “like a daughter” to her beloved client, Marie
CHHA Michele has been with her client Marie since January of 2017, but you would think they have known each other forever. They share a special bond, and Marie even says that Michele is “like a daughter” to her. Marie lives alone, and if not for Michele’s visits, would be lonely and potential in danger. In addition to the personal care services that Michele provides to keep Marie safe and healthy, you see their bond shine when Michele frequently makes puzzles and quizzes to stimulate Marie’s mind—or as they like to call it, “using our noodles.”
Marie says that without Michele, she would not be fully able to take care of herself. But As soon as Marie arrives at Marie’s door, the time flies as Marie keeps her on her toes—both figuratively and literally. In addition to regularly stimulating Marie’s mind, Michele makes sure that Marie is safe and on balance as she moves around her apartment.
We need your help in supporting dedicated caregivers like Indira and Marie through advocacy. To find out ways you can get involved, email advocacy@bayada.com today.
“Parents deserve to be parents, not skilled nurses, and more importantly, children deserve to be children—not patients.” Two moms share how PDN impacts their families’ lives
This year, our major focus in New Jersey is to fight for higher reimbursement rates for New Jersey’s Private Duty Nursing (PDN) program. One of the most impactful ways to influence legislators is to engage clients and families into advocacy through testimony, which is delivered by these clients to legislators who are in key positions to influence legislators. Below, find powerful excerpts from two moms who support a PDN increase on behalf of their children and their families.
Dana I. – Mother to
BAYADA Client, Abi
PDN services help Abi stay safe and healthy, and helps her whole family stay together at home
“There is truly no way to explain on how much caring for a medically
fragile child impacts a family. Every errand, every event, every move of your
day becomes centered around their care. Abi has been authorized for skilled
nursing care by our insurance company, yet she still has five or more unfilled
shifts every week.
Lapses in nursing
coverage put tremendous pressure on our entire family—we often have to miss work
and stay home to provide for her care, putting strain on the family finances. Lost
nursing hours also means the entire focus of our time becomes all about our
medically-fragile child, and the balance between the other children becomes
strained and we often miss beloved activities or events.
Abi is not a child that
we can just hire a babysitter for. Her high level of care and constant need for
monitoring makes it impossible to have any sense of normalcy without capable
& consistent nursing support. There are simply not enough nurses in home
care to cover all of the needs of my family and the needs of many, many others.
Institutionalized care
is not the answer. My precious daughter brings many challenges to our home, but
it would be heartbreaking to have to put her in an institution for lack of
nursing support. So here I am prayerfully putting a name and a face to those of
you who have the power to make a real difference in this area. Competitive
wages would bring stability to her home care nursing and allow our family and
families like us to stay together and thrive.” -Dana Insley, Abi’s mom
Emma K. – Mother to
BAYADA client, Lili
Client Lili (left) loves her compassionate and reliable nurse Barbara
“While I count my
blessings that we have the right nursing team in place, I often think of the
families across the state that can’t fill their nursing shifts. It takes me
back to the last time our scheduled nurse had a family emergency and there was
no other nurse available to cover her shift. As a single mother of a
medically-complex, ambulatory child with no family in the area, you can imagine how it plays out when there isn’t a nurse available for
Lili: I have to call out of work myself and cancel any commitments I’ve made
for the day. I can’t get the groceries that I was planning to pick up or even
do a load of laundry since I can’t leave Lili alone for even a minute. And I
have to again plan to do these things during the times I’m expecting to have a
nurse to stay with Lili because I can’t get them done otherwise.
We as a society have developed a system of reliability for our communities: Teachers help children learn, police keep our streets safe, ER doctors save lives, and pharmacists fill our prescriptions. But we are failing in keeping home nursing readily available. Just as a prescription, Lili’s care is prescribed by her doctor and authorized by the state. But we cannot rely on its availability. I hope that our state decision makers prioritize home care, if solely for the fact that it keeps children like Liliana at home and keeps families together. Parents deserve to be parents, not skilled nurses, and more importantly, children deserve to be children—not patients.” -Emma K., Liliana’s mom
Dana and Emma exemplify the power of sharing your story. If you’d like to highlight the powerful story of your experience in a home care office, or the story of a client, their loved one, or a caregiver, contact advocacy@bayada.com.
BAYADA’s Government Affairs Office (GAO) is proud to join with fellow advocates like you to continue to advocate for better wages for our caregivers and increased access to home health care for the tens of thousands of New Jersey residents that rely on this care to stay safe and independent at home. Thank you to our many employees, clients, and families who have advocated on behalf of yourselves, your loved ones, your staff, and your clients regarding our two major 2019 issues:
1. Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Program – Increased Reimbursements for Increased HHA Wages
GAO is advocating for HHAs like Indira (right) and clients like Jessie
GAO is working in collaboration with other providers and the New
Jersey Home Care and Hospice Association to educate our legislators on the
importance of adequate funding for the
Personal Care Assistant (PCA) program.This is especially important as the State recently mandated an increased
minimum wage. BAYADA supports a wage increase for all of our home health aides
(HHAs) for the incredible, lifechanging work they do—but additional advocacy is
necessary so state legislators understand the importance of proportional PCA
program funding so that providers like BAYADA can comply with the new mandate
and stay sustainable.
Click here to check out how HHA Indira helps her client Jessie stay at home, and about CHHA Michele’s special bond with her client Marie. We are hopeful that our advocacy efforts can lead to a fairer wage for aides like Indira and Michele, as well as better recruitment and retention rates across the ACSP practice so that all New Jersey residents who need this important service can access it. To find out how you can get involved, email advocacy@bayada.com today.
Increased PDN rates are important to ensure clients like Lili (left) can continue to have reliable nurses like Barbara (right)
GAO is working with the New Jersey Home Care and Hospice
Association to educate our legislators on the importance of adequate funding for the Private Duty Nursing (PDN) program.
Current PDN program funding makes it difficult for providers like BAYADA to
recruit and retain the nurses necessary to care for New Jersey’s most medically
complex and residents. This difficulty results in significant access to care
issues, as only 85% of scheduled hours are currently filled, and
vulnerable New Jersians are going without the care they need to stay safe and healthy
at home.
We are lucky to have home care supporters in the legislature who understand the struggles our caregivers and skilled nursing clients face—Recently, Bill S1733/A4575, which proposes a $10 per hour increase for RN and LPN home care services, was introduced. In addition to the increase, this bill also seeks to establish a “rate floor” so that managed Medicaid providers reimburse no less than the state fee-for-service rate for in-home skilled nursing services.
But we need your help in getting this bill to the finish line. Soon, this bill will be up for a hearing, and clients’ and employees’ testimony make the most impact in showing legislators the challenges that arise from inadequate funding and the associated access-to-care issues.
Click here to read excerpts from two clients’ testimonies regarding the importance of PDN in their lives. Powerful stories like the ones Dana and Emma share help our advocacy efforts and show legislators the impact of home care in making a real difference in vulnerable New Jersey residents’ lives. To find out how you can get involved, email advocacy@bayada.com today.
Last
year was Rhode Island’s first year with a full-time Government Affairs Office
(GAO) program—And what a year it was. Together with our Rhode Island office
staff, field staff, clients, and families, we were able to band our voices
together in advocacy to achieve monumental increases on behalf of our staff and
clients.
As a
result of our efforts, the State increased Medicaid rates for certified nursing
assitants (CNAs), and to the State’s private duty nursing (PDN) program. These
increases allow BAYADA to raise field workers’ wages and better compete for a
larger segment of the workforce. As a result, BAYADA is in a better position to
recruit and retain the staff necessary to keep up with demand, and Rhode
Islanders are poised to see increased access to reliable, consistent care.
Our
work is far from done. BAYADA’s GAO, along with the continued advocacy of so
many of you, is focusing on four key issues at this time:
Priority #1: Continued COLa Adjustments
GAO Director for RI and NY, Ashley Sadlier, testifies in support of COLa adjustments for home care workers
The
2018 increases also included a first-in-the-nation Cost of Living adjustment
(COLa), which will provide additional increases to Medicaid rates
every year based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Cost of Medical Services
annual adjustment. Our first majority priority
for 2019 is to ensure that the state keeps its commitment to COLa and
includes it in the state budget each year. If passed, this year’s COLa will add
an additional 1.9% to current rates to ensure they remain consistent with
actual, determined cost of living increases. In March, GAO director Ashley Sadlier testified in support of this
important adjustment in front of the House and Senate Finance Committees alongside
other supporters. At this time, we see no opposition and continue to monitor COLa
through the state’s budget process.
Priority #2: High Acuity
Skilled Nursing Rate Modifier
RI representatives Patricia Serpa (left) and Mia Ackerman (right) introduce bill to increase home care rates for high acuity skilled nursing services
One major
issue that Rhode Island’s skilled nursing offices often face is recruiting the
specialty-trained nurses necessary for more complex, high acuity clients. Luckily,
home care supporters in the House agree. Recently, representatives Patricia Serpa and Mia Ackerman introduced House Bill
5621, which calls for a 10% increase to Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing
services provided to clients with tracheostomies and/or ventilators. The bill
has taken the next step in the legislative process by being referred to the
House Finance Committee. Currently, GAO is awaiting a date for the bill to be heard.
If you, a loved one, or your staff or clients would benefit from such a bill,
please reach out to asadlier@bayada.com!
We hope to have a strong showing of support at the state house when the bill
moves forward and we would love your help.
Priority #3: Helping Pediatric Clients
Transition to Adult Clients
BAYADA is working with the State of RI to streamline processes for medically complex Rhode Islanders transitioning from pediatric to adult home care
BAYADA has collaborated
with the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care (RIPHC) to advocate for
additional resources for pediatric clients currently receiving home nursing
services who are transitioning to adult services. Currently, clients that are transitioning face many challenges
navigating the system, especially when determining what programs and
services they are eligible for. BAYADA and the Partnership have met with the
Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Department of
Behavioral Healthcare, and Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) and
Managed Medicaid, to create plans on how
to streamline the process for this population and expand eligibility options
for families. To date, several BAYADA clients have transitioned to a more
appropriate program for the level of care that they require. GAO looks forward
to continuing to help our partners at the State to develop plans to ensure
parents, caregivers, caseworkers, schools, and agencies are equipped with the
resources necessary to assist families in navigating the challenges of
transitioning from pediatric to adult home care services.
Priority #4: Continued
relationship-building
BAYADA and the RI Partnership for Home Care meet with Rep. Joseph McNamara
While
2018 brought success to Rhode Island’s home care front, GAO continues to build
relationships to ensure that legislators and regulators understand the
importance of home care to so many of Rhode Island’s families, and support
policies that ensure its accesibility. Recently, alongside the Partnership, GAO
director Ashley Sadlier met with Rep. Joseph McNamara, the Chairman of the
Rhode Island House of Representatives Committee on Health, Education and
Welfare. Rep. McNamara is in a key role to influence legislation, and BAYADA looks
forward to continuing to be a valuable partner to Chairman McNamara—and many
other key legislators and regulators—on issues such as employee training and
supervision, access to care, and challenges that providers, employees, and
families see within the home care industry.
More than 50 home care employees, clients, and family members attended the DE Association for Home and Community Care Legislative Day!
Delaware Ambassadors and employees have set participation records
at two key annual advocacy events this year—The Delaware Association for Home and Community Care (DAHCC) Legislative Day
and our annual testimony in front of Delaware’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC).
The first, the Delaware Association for Home and Community Care
(DAHCC) Legislative Day on March 13, had a
record attendance of more than 50 attendees! 41 registered for the event,
which would have been a record itself, but the larger-than-expected turnout was
an impressive surprise. Seven providers,
including BAYADA, were represented, and the crowd included six families advocating for themselves
and their nurses. Everyone wore their own company’s branded gear but united
behind Hearts for Home Care buttons that proclaimed, “Home Health Care Matters to Me.”
Legislators heard our message was heard loud and clear.
BAYADA employees made their voices heard in front of the DE Joint Finance Committee
In another first for Delaware, two legislators spoke in support
of a large rate increase for Delaware’s home care RNs and LPNs at the DAHCC Day Press Conference. To make it
even better, the two were none other than the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Nicole Poore, and the House
Majority Leader, Representative Valerie
Longhurst. Both spoke passionately about the importance of home care in our
communities and the need to increase reimbursement to ensure that this vital
care is available to those who rely on it.
They were joined in speaking by the Executive Director of DAHCC, Jean Mullin, and BAYADA client Haley Shiber.
A week later, on March 20, Delaware advocates broke another
record when 15 members of our community
testified before the powerful Joint Finance Committee (JFC) in support of
increasing Medicaid home care reimbursement rates. Led by Jean Mullin, participants included Torie Carter, Jenny Scott, Mandy Brady, Judeth Smith, Ali Knott,
Danielle Myers, Shannon Gahs, Dave Totaroand representatives
from Epic/Aveanna and Maxim/Aveanna. Client Haley Shiber was unable to attend in
person but sent a powerful testimony video to the JFC members before the
hearing. The Joint Finance Committee hears budget requests from all state
agencies and testimony from the public before making an annual budget
recommendation to the full General Assembly. The General Assembly frequently
follows the majority of those recommendations. Members of the committee told
BAYADA in the days following the hearing that they had never before seen such a large contingent testifying on a single issue!
The industry-wide coalition led by BAYADA and DAHCC is pushing
the Delaware legislature for a 21%
increase in the Medicaid home care RN and LPN rates, which would impact our
Skilled Nursing practices—Pediatrics and Adult Nursing. Because of the home
care Rate Floor passed two years ago mandating that Medicaid MCOs pay no less
than Medicaid fee-for-service, these new higher rates would have to be paid not
only for “straight Medicaid” hours but also those funded by managed care in
Delaware. These two rates currently remain at their 2006 levels, harming our
ability to recruit and retain the highly-skilled RNs and LPNs that are so
important to the lives and welfare of our clients.
Thank you to our advocates
who turned out and made sure that Delaware’s decision makers know that we are
here to advocate on behalf of our staff and clients, and that home care makes a
difference in the lives of so many Delawareans!
