Testimonials

One of the most significant benefits of joining a professional organization, like NAHC, is the opportunity it provides to either be a mentor or to find one. As a previous “mentoree,” I am a huge advocate for the NAHC Mentorship program. I was blessed to gain Carolyn Fleistra as a mentor. Carolyn offered me the ability to learn the industry and association from someone who had worked in the industry at the executive level for years and someone who had been involved in the organization at a high level. She shared her experiences, shared tips, ensured I knew where to be, and above all, gave me a sense of belonging. I highly encourage anyone to seek mentorship
Summer Napier, President, Healing Hands Healthcare, LLC
The HHFMA Mentorship program has provided me with a great professional relationship with someone outside of my own organization. My mentor has been a great sounding board and someone I can reach out to as for insight and guidance related to professional development, speaking opportunities, educational resources and especially career aspirations. We often work together to discuss both financial and regulatory changes that will impact the home health and/or hospice industries. I cannot stress enough the value I have received being in the HHFMA Mentorship program and plan to become a mentor myself.
Mike Simione, Director of Cost Reports, SimiTree Healthcare Consulting
When I first became a homecare executive, my predecessor and first home health & hospice mentor advised me to join HHFMA. “And never miss the Finance conference!” It was fantastic advice. The HHFMA has been a great source of current information over my career, and its mentoring program was a terrific additional benefit. I was fortunate to be assigned a wonderful mentor, Marcylle Combs. She answered my questions, introduced me to others, and helped me navigate all the resources available to members through NAHC and the HHFMA. I’ve also really enjoyed mentoring others over the years. If you are new to the HHFMA, a mentor can help you optimize your membership. If you are experienced, serving as a mentor is a wonderful way to give back to the homecare and hospice community.
Carolyn Flietstra BSN RN, Executive Vice President (Retired), Christian Living Services
Through the HHFMA Mentorship program I have had several formal and informal conversations with my assigned mentor. This has provided the opportunity to evaluate and achieve my career goals within the industry – like being appointed to the HHFMA Workgroup. The knowledge I have gained since joining the industry has been extensive and the HHFMA Mentorship program has played a major role in my career development. I will continue to contribute to the success of this initiative, including becoming a mentor myself.
RJ Gagnon, CFO, Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice

Legislative Information Center

Care Planning Act
The Care Planning Act would provide much needed assistance to individuals with serious health conditions by giving them access to more information about potential treatment options and ensuring that the course of treatment they arrive at is consistent with their personal goals, values and preferences. The bill would create a new benefit under Medicare that embodies key elements that have proven tremendously effective in empowering individuals to make deliberate and thoughtful decisions on the course of care that is right for them. The elements include the use of an interdisciplinary team and allowing for a series of discussions with a variety of experts. The Care Planning Act would remove some of the overwhelming confusion and anxiety that so often accompany health care decision making, and assure that an individual’s chosen treatment plan is communicated among care providers.
Care Planning Act One-Pager
Care Planning Act Section by Section

Care Planning Act

The Care Planning Act would provide much needed assistance to individuals with serious health conditions by giving them access to more information about potential treatment options and ensuring that the course of treatment they arrive at is consistent with their personal goals, values and preferences.

The bill would create a new benefit under Medicare that embodies key elements that have proven tremendously effective in empowering individuals to make deliberate and thoughtful decisions on the course of care that is right for them. The elements include the use of an interdisciplinary team and allowing for a series of discussions with a variety of experts. The Care Planning Act would remove some of the overwhelming confusion and anxiety that so often accompany health care decision making, and assure that an individual’s chosen treatment plan is communicated among care providers.

Care Planning Act One-Pager

Care Planning Act Section by Section

Hospice CARE Act Seeks to Refine Hospice Face-to-Face Requirements
The Hospice Commitment to Accurate and Relevant Encounters Act — Hospice CARE addresses key issues related to the requirement that hospice providers conduct a face-to-face encounter with patients entering their third or subsequent benefit period to gather information that helps support documentation of continuing eligibility for hospice care.
Hospice CARE Act Issue Brief
NAHC’s Hospice CARE Act Letter of Support

Oppose Medicare Home Health Copays and Payment Cuts
NAHC urges all home care advocates to ask their members of Congress to “Reject proposals that would impose home health copays and payment cuts to offset the cost of fixing the Medicare physician payment formula, to reduce the deficit, or for other purposes.”
Home Health Copay Issue Brief
Home Health Copay Talking Points
Home Health Payments Issue Brief/Talking Points
Co-payment White Paper
A Home Health Co-Payment: Affected Beneficiaries and Potential Impacts
Potential Impact of a Home Health Co-Payment on Other Medicare Spending
NAHC Statement to E&C Subcommittee on Health
Contact Your Legislators!

Preserve Access to Home Health Care
Ensure that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) preserves adequate and appropriate payment for Medicare home health services and does not impose unreasonable regulatory burdens that would restrict access to care.
1) Urge Lawmakers to Require CMS to Reconsider Home Health PPS Rebasing Rule
Home Health Rebasing Overview
Rebasing Reform Proposal Talking Points
2014-2017 Projections State National 3-13-14
2014-2017 Projections Congressional District 3-13-14
House Home Health Rebasing Dear Colleague Letter 9-17-14
Home Health Rebasing Relief Letter to House Leadership
House Home Health Rebasing Dear Colleague Letter 3-6-2014
House Home Health Rebasing Letter
Senate Home Health Rebasing Letter
Senate Small Business Committee Chair Rebasing Letter
Senate Minority Leader Rebasing Letter
Contact Your Legislators!
2) Urge that CMS take the following actions to resolve serious issues arising from implementation of the face-to-face physician encounter requirement (F2F) for home health services:
a) Phase-in the new F2F documentation requirements by issuing comprehensive guidance on compliance and education of physicians and home health agencies before instituting full enforcement
NAHC F2F Phase-In Letter to CMS
Contact Your Legislators!
b) Reverse past F2F claim denials and stop future audits related to the physician narrative requirement
Senate Face-to-Face Letter to CMS
House Face-to-Face Letter to CMS 2013
House Face-to-Face Letter to CMS 2014
Talking Points/Issue Brief
Home Care Face-to-Face Mandate: A Major Problem, a Simple Fix
Face-to-Face Documentation Survey Results
Contact Your Legislators!

Hospice: Protect the Medicare Hospice Benefit
NAHC urges hospice advocates to tell Congress to “Protect the Medicare Hospice Benefit.”
Issue Background/Talking Points
Contact Your Legislators!

Allow NP/PAs to Order Home Health Services
Ask your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (S 445/HR 1825), which would allow Nurse Practitioners, Advanced Practice Nurses, and Physician Assistants to sign Medicare home health care plans.
Issue Brief/Talking Points
House Dear Colleague Letter
Senate Dear Colleague Letter
New Report Projects Substantial Medicare Savings from Allowing NPs/PAs to Sign Home Health Plans of Care.
Contact Your Legislators!

Extend the Home Health Rural Add-On
Urge your Members of Congress to support efforts to extend the Medicare home health rural add-on.
Issue Brief/Talking Points
Contact Your Legislators!

Oppose Proposals to Cut Federal Funding for Medicaid
NAHC urges home care and hospice advocates to ask their Members of Congress to protect access to home care and hospice for low income Medicaid beneficiaries by opposing proposals that would reduce federal Medicaid funding.
Issue Brief/Talking Points
Contact Your Legislators!

Modify Employer Responsibilities in the ACA to Address Home Care-Specific Needs
1) Ask your Members of Congress to modify the employer responsibilities in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to protect access to home care.
Issue Brief/Talking Points
2) Urge your Legislators to support legislation that would define full time for purposes of the ACA as 40 hours a week
Statement on the Introduction of the Forty Hours Is Full Time Act
40 Hours Is Full Time endorsement letter
Contact Your Legislators!

Expand the Home Health Caucus
Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC) are again asking their colleagues in the House of Representatives to join the Congressional Home Health Caucus. NAHC urges all home care advocates to reach out to their representatives and remind them to join the caucus today.
Dear Colleague Letter from Congressmen McGovern and Jones

National Association for Home Care & Hospice

Legislative Information Center

Affiliates