I felt it important to pass along this recent Call to Action from the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare and urge you to support. It is necessary for us all to act now to fight and reject these cuts to support our seniors.
Arnie Burchianti, II, MPT, CEO, Celtic Healthcare
November 14, 2011
CALL TO ACTION
Good afternoon everyone,
Once again, I am coming to you this today asking you to join me in standing and speaking up for the sick elderly seniors we serve.
The home health community came together in 2010 to found the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, a coalition that includes some of the nation’s leading home health providers as well as the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. The mission of the Partnership is to advance solutions that strengthen the Medicare program, secure access for beneficiaries, and achieve stability for the delivery system on which seniors depend.
The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare is represented by a strong and diverse team in Washington D.C. including former U.S.Congressman and former Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Billy Tauzin (R-LA), and former U.S. Senator and former Co-Chair of the National Bipartisan Commission on the future of Medicare John Breaux (D-LA).
Our message is clear – Millions of seniors, disabled persons and chronically ill Americans rely on quality home health care. We urge Congress to reject further across the board Medicare funding cuts and co-payments to the home health benefit in the upcoming debt ceiling legislation and instead achieve savings via strong program integrity improvements. Home health cuts and co-payments will have a devastating impact on some of the poorest and sickest Medicare beneficiaries in the US. Such changes will also cause many patients to leave their homes and instead seek treatment in more costly inpatient settings. There is a better way to achieve savings for the Medicare program. Please take a few minutes to visit the link below to view the video interview with Chairman Tauzin and Senator Breaux on our “Fight Fraud First” campaign.
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/mornings/fight-fraud-first-john-breaux-and-billy-tauzin-102611
While we are gratified and encouraged by the attention that has been paid by the White House and Congress to the reforms that the Partnership for Quality Home Health has proposed in its Skilled Home Healthcare Integrity and Program Savings proposal, America’s sickest seniors continue to face tremendous risk as a copay remains under consideration among both Democrats and Republicans on the Joint Special Committee (JSC). Our proposal, which we call SHHIPS for short, focuses on program integrity, payment reform, and quality improvements in order to achieve sustainable savings, protect beneficiaries, and achieve operational stability. Due to its substance and potential savings, our proposal has been supported by Governors and Members of Congress alike as a preferred alternative to cuts and co-pays.
Less than one week remains before the JSC reaches its decisions, which could still include not making any Medicare or Medicaid cuts and deferring instead to alternative options including budget reconciliation in 2012. As a result, it’s critical that they make their decisions with a clear understanding of what Americans think about this issue. That’s why I am asking you to begin TODAY writing letters and making calls. Please also reach out to patients and caregivers, friends, family, and industry colleagues and associates encouraging them to do so as well TODAY. TIMING IS OF THE ESSENCE.
Please go to the website below and follow the simple “point & click” instructions on our homepage to both write and call members of Congress.
http://act.homehealth4america.org/
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Bill Simione, Jr., Chairman, Home Care and Hospice PAC, at 800.949.0388.
Thank you in advance for what I know will be an overwhelming grassroots effort by all. No one stands up and speaks up for those we serve more effectively and consistently than all of you!
We have a chance to make a difference in the lives of those we serve, but we must act NOW!
Chairman
Home Care and Hospice PAC
For further assistance or further information, please visit us at homecareandhospicepac.org or 800.949.0388.
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