Senate Advocates of Home Care and Hospice Address March on Washington

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)

Senator Jerry Moran, (R-KS)

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)

Senator Al Franken (D-MN)

Members of the home care and hospice community had the opportunity to hear from a bipartisan group of senators – all of whom are strong proponents of home care and hospice - on the importance of the work that they do, the industry that they champion, and the lives that they touch. The senators addressed March on Washington attendees in the Russell Senate Office Building Caucus Room prior to a day of grassroots lobbying and direct advocacy of lawmakers by March on Washington attendees.

The group of senators included many champions of home care and hospice – including both senators from Kansas – Republicans Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts – and both senators from Minnesota – Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken. Among the other senators who addressed the crowd were long-time supporters Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME), who addressed the March on Washington for the 15^th straight year, Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Mark Warner (D-VA). The senators made up not only a bipartisan group demonstrating their support for home care, but also a group that represents a cross-section of the country – indicating that access to home care and hospice is crucial in every corner of the nation.

Home care and hospice is not only an issue that brought disparate members of the Senate together in their support, but it is also care that is highly personal – with many of the senators sharing their stories of why they are such strong advocates of the home care and hospice community.

Senator Al Franken (D-MN) - a comedy writer prior to being elected to the Senate – was brought to tears sharing with the crowd the positive experiences his family had with the level and quality of hospice and end-of-life care his father received.

Senator Jerry Moran, (R-KS) said that, “My passion is to ensure the way we live our lives in rural America survives for another generation,” and that, “part of keeping people at home is keeping available access to high quality health care."

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) told the crowd that, “the rest of the healthcare industry needs to follow your example of delivering high-quality, cost-effective care.”

Despite all the support that the senators expressed for home care and hospice, serious challenges remain – from proposed overhauls to Medicare and Medicaid to suggestions to add copays or cuts to the home care and hospice benefits. Many of the senators stated that legislative action was needed to preserve home care and hospice and vowed to continue to fight along with March on Washington advocates.

Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) promised the crowd that he would, “continue to fight to ensure that homecare and hospice aren't unduly targeted for budget cuts,” while Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) expressed his opinion that, “the hospice benefit must be offered at a much earlier stage.”

Perhaps none of the senators received as warm a welcome as Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) who has addressed the March on Washington for 15 straight years - and whose experience going on a home visit with an advocate in Maine is why she is such a strong supporter of the home care and hospice community.

Senator Collins shared with the crowd that she plans to reintroduce legislation that will allow nurses and physician’s assistants to sign orders for Medicare home care – an issue long favoured by NAHC – in the coming weeks. Senator Collins also had some practical advice for the home care and hospice advocates who were attending the March on Washington prior to their meetings with lawmakers: “tell your senators about the compassionate care you provide and the budgetary problems you face… And with the recess coming up, invite your elected officials go out on a home visit with you.”

With so many issues facing the home care and hospice community, the advocates who came to the March on Washington were able to hear both the unwavering support many senators have for their community as well as how important their role as advocates and grassroots lobbyists is on a myriad of different topics prior to their meetings with elected officials.

In closing the session, NAHC president Val J. Halamandaris reiterated that there was now, “a critical mass of support for home care and hospice in the the United States Senate because of the work that you do every day."

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