The Value of Home Care

It should come as no surprise that one of the most pressing problems facing lawmakers and policymakers today is finding solutions to the many challenges facing America’s health care system. With the explosion of Medicaid costs, the expansion of Medicare and the high costs of prescription drugs, there are no easy answers and no quick fixes.

No group is faced with these challenges more than the nation’s governors and state legislatures.

AAHomecare is working with the National Governors Association (NGA), state legislative groups and individual states as coalition partners to help them address these challenges, and help them understand that home care is part of the solution for the future of health care in America.

Obviously, now is the time to turn the debate around for home care with America’s policymakers. Recently, I was invited to represent AAHomecare at the NGA’s Winter Meeting held in Washington, D.C., in a discussion about the latest in home care options and technologies. The event offered a great opportunity for the associaton to foster relations with governors and other state leaders. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the vice-chair of the Health and Human Services committee, expressed her interest and support for home care during the conference by noting “because new home health care options can offer relief for patients and family members, as well as state taxpayers, they deserve our consideration.”

NGA Chairman and Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne expressed his support for home care throughout the conference. During the conference’s opening plenary session, Gov. Kempthorne declared “… the American health care system is organized around the treatment and financing of acute care episodes. If we can change the focus of long-term care from the nursing home to the family home, we will improve the health of our older adults and reduce America’s health care costs.”

Indeed, home care is the place where costs can be minimized, and at the same time, with the breakthrough in new technologies, patient care can be maximized. AARP did a study that found 84 percent of people over 45 said they preferred to stay in their home as long as possible. Although that’s not surprising, with 33 million people over 65 living at home today and even more projected in the future, the implications of that preference for our industry are profound.

The truth is that the status quo is simply unacceptable. Building care solutions around more “brick and mortar” is definitely not the answer. First, it’s simply far too costly, and, frankly, families can’t afford it — and neither can government.

Home care today is helping meet patients’ needs and keeping costs down. We must share this solution with policymakers in Washington, D.C., and in every state across the country. The difference in cost, the difference in the quality of care and the difference in patient satisfaction truly makes home care the answer for the future of the health care system in America.

But as we work with those who are trying to solve the health care challenges, I would pose these questions:

• How can we educate both patients and policymakers that clinical advances and technologies already exist to provide the best quality of care in the setting where most people truly want to receive it; and
• How can we assure access to home care for every patient who needs care?

To deliver the message, we need everyone in the industry to share the value of home care with their elected officials and tell them that home care offers many solutions to our country’s health care needs. Together, we can make a difference in Washington.

Kay Cox is president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare, Alexandria, Va. For more information about AAHomecare, visit www.aahomecare.org, or call 703/836 – 6263.