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Dear Colleague:
 Those of us whose day-to-day mission is directly affected by health policy decisions know that in Washington, D.C., policy and politics are inextricably linked - those providers that are most active in the political world stand the best chance of being understood and having their voices heard. It is for this reason that on an annual basis we provide leaders in home care and hospice the opportunity to learn the latest legislative, regulatory and legal trends, and a chance to join with their peers from across the country in educating their elected officials about the challenges of providing quality health care in the home setting.
As has been the case in other years, 2007 is expected to be one of active deliberations on health care issues in Congress, including serious discussions on deficit reduction and Medicare and Medicaid reform. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be in the throes of refashioning the home health prospective payment case-mix system and conditions of participation for both home health and hospice. Federal policies will continue to incentivize states to broaden the availability of services in the home and community over those provided in institutions. And public health officials at all levels of government will be bracing for a potential avian flu pandemic.
With these issues and concerns as backdrops, it is essential that home care and hospice providers come to Washington in the largest possible numbers to represent the interests of their agencies, their staffs, and the patients and families that they serve, and to educate their Senators and Representatives. There is no more effective means for getting your point across than to make the trip to Washington, D.C., visit with your Senators and Representative in their offices, and talk directly to the staff members that assist in making health policy decisions. As part of our day on Capitol Hill, we have also scheduled two very popular events - a continental breakfast on the Senate side of the Capitol, followed by appearances of some of the home care and hospice world's most staunch advocates. Then, after a long day of lobbying your Senators and Representatives, we will host a reception on the House side to honor our friends in the House of Representatives.
In order that you get the greatest possible benefit from your visit to our nation's capital, we at the National Association for Home Care & Hospice have crafted educational sessions that will provide the latest information on issues in the regulatory and legislative arenas that will have an impact on your agency. We have also lined up noted Presidential Scholar and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Doris Kearns Goodwin to provide some insights into the lives and times of some of our greatest leaders.
As we did last year and in years past, we have dedicated the entire day of programming on Wednesday, April 25, to legal issues in hospice and home care - our Home Care & Hospice Law Symposium.
There is much at stake in the coming year, and we urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to make plans to visit Washington, D.C., and to join with your fellow home care and hospice advocates from across the country in taking our message to Congress. If you've never attended NAHC's policy conference, 2007 is the year in which you must change that. If you come every year, 2007 is the year that you should double the number of agency staff that you usually bring to participate in the political process. With all of us speaking as one voice, we can't help but be heard.
We look forward to seeing you in Washington, D.C.
Sincerely,
Val J. Halamandaris, JD
President, National Association for Home Care & Hospice
Washington, D.C.
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