National Alliance for Care at Home

As we close out #WomensHistoryMonth, we recognize Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, psychiatrist and author of the bestselling book On Death and Dying, 1969. Kubler-Ross introduced the five stages through which many terminally-ill patients progress. She was widely considered the leading death and dying expert and testified on the topic for the first time before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. Elisabeth Kübler Ross Foundation

Hear from the Alliance in this recent HomeCare Magazine story covering the Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act, which was recently reintroduced by a bipartisan coalition of legislators including Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), John Joyce (PA-13), Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Lloyd Doggett (TX-37). “Occupational therapy (OT) is a critical service to support the recovery and independence of countless older and disabled Americans. Access to home health OT can improve quality and reduce overall Medicare spending. Homebound patients often need OT services in their own homes, but OT is the only skilled home health service that cannot be ordered under current law unless a Medicare beneficiary also needs nursing, physical therapy, or speech therapy. This means that people can be denied essential OT services in the home unless other services are also ordered. The Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act, would correct that oversight, and it has the full support of the National Alliance for Care at Home.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/ebb3hYt4

The Alliance's Chief Government Affairs Officer Scott Levy sat down with Hospice News to "discuss the array of regulatory and legislative evolutions on the horizon in hospice care delivery." Get the state of play and learn more about key Alliance focuses in the full interview: https://lnkd.in/eyJGbK9Z

As #SocialWorkMonth comes to a close, we want to give one final thank you to the incredible social workers who make a difference every day in the lives of the patients and families they serve.??? Your dedication and compassion do not go unnoticed. Whether advocating for patients, guiding families through difficult moments, or working toward systematic change, the impact of social work is profound and lasting.? ? Join us in celebrating one more time – tag a social worker who has made a difference in your life or share a message of thanks in the comments!???

Earlier this month, Empath Health CEO Jonathan Fleece testified before Congress on the value of care at home. "We should be expanding access to care at home, not cutting...But today, access to this type of care is at risk,” he said. Catch up with this McKnight's Home Care coverage of the hearing: https://lnkd.in/evDHcPbV

"In its latest?report to Congress, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) issued two recommendations to improve home- and community-based services. ... 'The Alliance appreciates these recommendations, and we broadly support both. However, the Alliance is concerned that these recommendations are not sufficient to ensure that the Medicaid program truly fulfils the promise of the Olmstead Supreme Court decision and provides care in the most integrated settings appropriate to the needs and preferences of individuals,' the Alliance said Tuesday in a?statement." Read more in the full McKnight's Home Care story: https://lnkd.in/eQjz7HSX

Last week, CMS nominee Dr. Oz testified before the Senate Finance Committee. Read the Alliance's key takeaways in this Home Health Care News story. "Scott Levy, [Chief Government Affairs Officer for the Alliance] noted the Alliance would be paying close attention to how the potential Medicaid cuts shake out. However, he said he believes that Oz statements at the hearing do not indicate that the CMS nominee is targeting home and community-based programs." Full story: https://lnkd.in/eqw8yGcW

Read the latest from Hospice News featuring the Alliance on the DEA proposed rule. "Implementation of the proposed rule would have adverse consequences for hospice and palliative care patients, according to the National Alliance for Care at Home. 'While we appreciate the [DEA’s] efforts to consider the needs of hospice and palliative care practitioners in balancing patient access with preventing the diversion of controlled substances, we are deeply concerned that the proposed rule could significantly and irreparably impede timely and appropriate medication access for individuals in the home under its proposed special registration framework, particularly for terminally ill and seriously ill patients receiving hospice and palliative care services,' the Alliance indicated in a comment letter on the proposal." Access the full story: https://lnkd.in/ewREQbi7

Don’t miss out – Register now for the upcoming MDP course, Building Emotional Intelligence! ? Occurring from April 14 to May 12, this online course offers a unique opportunity to evaluate your emotional intelligence as a manager and learn new strategies to foster a more emotionally intelligent work environment. ? ? ?? Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: ? ?? Understand the significance of emotional intelligence ? ?? Master the core skills of emotional intelligence ? ?? Identify emotional triggers that impact hospice manager performance ? ?? Apply “pause intervention” to manage emotionally charged responses ? ?? Transform potentially destructive encounters into?productive ones Take advantage of this opportunity to earn CE/CME credits and register today: https://lnkd.in/gm4BBdQw ?

Continuing our Women’s History Month recognition we honor Mary Eliza Mahoney, who made history as the first African American woman to earn a nursing degree in the U.S. In 1879, Mahoney broke racial and gender barriers in the nursing profession. She dedicated her career to advocating for better care in underserved communities and was a co-founder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, which helped to promote equality in nursing. #WomensHistoryMonth