During an election season — and this is a big one —
candidates and the press all have their ears to the ground,
listening for the footsteps of the Big Issues.
So this is a good time to remember that health care is a huge,
chronic concern to Americans, and home care figures as a vital
factor in the policy, economics and politics of health care in
America.
The big reimbursement issues, which the home care community is
tackling from many angles, may not be resolved in 2004. But there
are plenty of urgent reasons and important opportunities to remind
Congress that these issues make a big difference in the lives of
patients, caregivers and the businesses that serve them.
Here is the logic — whether we have immediate resolution
to these issues or not, all members of Congress must understand who
we are and what we are about. Let's put the message in a nutshell:
Home care improves the lives of millions of Americans who are
receiving patient-preferred, clinically proven and cost-effective
treatment.
Ours is an industry that should be encouraged to grow and
innovate. It is not in the public or the patient's interest when
Washington creates policies that threaten access to home care and
cause the industry to cut back and restrict delivery of
therapies.
Home care providers and manufacturers should think of themselves
as grasstops leaders of real grassroots power, and use that power
to make sure candidates and the press hear the footsteps of the
millions of lives touched by home care. Does this mean you have to
endorse candidates in every race? No. Does it mean home care is a
part of the dialog? Yes, absolutely. Here are a few approaches:
Reward home care champions
First, let's make sure that people who have gone on record as
home care champions get the recognition they deserve. Support them
in every way you can. Make it public. Send them letters of support
when they cosponsor key legislation such as H.R. 4491, which would
repeal the DME reimbursement cuts in the Medicare Modernization Act
of 2003. Share these letters with your local newspapers or via
press releases explaining why this is important to your local
community.
Nurture new champions
Give elected officials a reason to cosponsor a bill or join a
home care cause by putting a human face on the issue. How many
patients and families in your state or congressional district are
served by home care or receive a specific therapy? How many
employees work for home care businesses in the district? Cite
specific people and the difference that home care makes in their
lives. Invite them to tour your facilities or to picnic with your
patients. Emphasize how important it is that the needs of home care
are recognized in Congress.
Insert the issue into the election dialog
Make sure home care issues are visible. For instance, mention
the key issues at town hall meetings held by members of Congress.
Discuss home care issues as important considerations in the choice
of candidates in your public communications. Invite the press to
get to know what's at stake in your community if access to home
care is cut back because of reduced reimbursements.
Follow up and follow through
Championing home care in Washington is a process that continues
as long as there is home care and as long as there is a Congress.
If possible, become a resource on home care issues for the health
care legislative aide for your member of Congress.
These are the types of strategies that home care providers and
manufacturers of all sizes can use in the months leading up to
— and following — the fall elections.
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.
