HCAOA Hires Medicaid Policy Expert Damon Terzaghi

WASHINGTON—The Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) has added policy expert Damon Terzaghi as vice president of public policy, saying it’s part of a strategic expansion of its Medicaid advocacy work.

HCAOA said that as more of its member agencies serve clients whose care is funded through Medicaid, the association is building out specialized policy expertise to track and respond to a landscape shaped by reimbursement changes, workforce shortages, managed care expansion, program integrity requirements, electronic visit verification mandates and shifting state and federal regulations.

Terzaghi brings more than two decades of experience in Medicaid, long-term services and supports, aging, disability and home-based care policy across federal and state government, national associations and the private sector. He most recently served as vice president of Medicaid and homecare policy at the National Alliance for Care at Home, and has held roles at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, ADvancing States, the Marwood Group, the National Association of State Medicaid Directors and the Oregon Department of Human Services.

“Medicaid is core to how many of our members do business, creating a growing need for expertise and advocacy around Medicaid issues,” said HCAOA CEO Jason Lee. “Damon understands Medicaid policy from every angle. His experience will strengthen HCAOA’s value to our members and the voice we bring to policymakers.”

HCAOA represents 5,000 homecare agencies and suppliers nationwide and maintains an active state advocacy presence across the country. Terzaghi will work with the association’s government relations team, state chapters and members to identify emerging Medicaid issues, analyze their effect on providers and consumers and advocate for policies supporting access to high-quality home-based care.

 “We are at a crucial inflection point in long-term services and supports in our country, as demand far exceeds capacity and more participants turn to Medicaid programs to finance their care,” Terzaghi said. “With the enrollment and spending growth in these programs, beneficiaries and providers are facing more and more difficult questions, ranging across access, workforce, payments, quality and program integrity. I’m eager to hear directly from HCAOA member and make sure our policy discussions reflect their experiences.”

Terzaghi will lead an expansion of HCAOA’s member resources focused on Medicaid in the coming months, including Medicaid-specific communications, state-level coordination with HCAOA chapters and state home care associations, and an online resource hub.