Testimonials

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
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
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

Center for Health Care Law

The Center for Health Care Law is a nonprofit, public interest law firm, established by NAHC in January 1987. William A. Dombi, NAHC President and an attorney with more than 35 years of experience challenging arbitrary governmental actions, has acted as director since its inception.

The purpose of the law firm is to help protect the rights of the elderly, disabled, handicapped, and chronically ill who require health care services. The Center intervenes on behalf of such persons, filing lawsuits against Medicare, Medicaid, health maintenance organizations, and private insurance companies when necessary to protect their vital interests. Numerous other public interest law firms assist the Center in its efforts to address important health care law issues.

The Center also handles most of the litigation that NAHC feels must be brought on behalf of the membership. This approach, unique among health care associations, provides a valuable tool to NAHC and its members, who may be faced with arbitrary governmental action. The success of this venture was highlighted in the landmark Medicare class action lawsuit, Duggan v. Bowen, where the home care industry challenged Medicare’s dismantling of the home health benefit. As a result of the litigation, the entire Medicare home care benefit was rewritten.

While concentrating on matters that significantly affect the home health and hospice communities and patients, the Center also is available to help individual NAHC members who require expert, specialized legal assistance. NAHC member agencies can readily access the Center’s skilled legal services from attorneys specializing in home care law on the range of issues affecting their business. Since 1987, the Center has assisted thousands of individual agencies with legal problems related to third-party payments, licensure, risk management, employment law, and business planning. Many of these legal needs can be satisfied by the Center without charge to NAHC members.

Overall, the Center has provided invaluable services to NAHC and its members through litigation, legal advice and representation for individual members, and legal input on legislative and regulatory issues affecting the home care industry.

Here are some examples of questions members ask the Center for Health Care Law:

How can I protect my agency and the patient whenever we must discharge while the patient still needs skilled care? We do not want to be in an abandonment situation.
Medicare claims it overpaid me. I disagree. How can I challenge Medicare on this?
Coverage denials, sampling audits, cost report disallowances – there are steps to appealing Medicare claims and cost reports. Where do I start?
How can my agency pay its medical director, who also refers to the agency, and not violate the anti-kickback rules? What if we also rent office space in a building this person owns?
What risks does the agency face if we pay staff by the visit? Can we mix per visit pay and hourly pay to the same employee?
We want to establish a branch office. What are the rules that always seem to change? The state surveyor is claiming a COP violation. Is she right? What are the regulations and interpretative guidelines?

National Association for Home Care & Hospice

Center for Health Care Law

Affiliates