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HCAC e-news NAMED “FRIEND OF HOME CARE” The HCAC
honored Senator Wayne Allard recently with the presentation of a plaque
naming him “Friend of Home Care.” The award was given in recognition
of his work in reducing paperwork for home care professionals when he
introduced a successful amendment to the recent Medicare Prescription
Drug Bill that dropped the requirement for the collection of OASIS data
on non-Medicare and non-Medicaid home care clients. Participating
in the ceremony that occurred at the Senator’s Denver-area office were
Carol Gaylord, Argus of Colorado Home Health, Denver; Martha de Ulibarri,
Visiting Nurse Corp. of Colorado, Denver; Mike Oliva, retired U.S.
Public Health Service Physical Therapist and Home Health Specialist and
long-time HCAC supporter and volunteer, Senator Allard and HCAC
Executive Director Ellen Caruso. Earlier
this year the Colorado State Health Care Legislative Task Force drafted
a letter urging Congressional Leaders to take steps to curb excess
paperwork. The letter stated in part: "The
requirement by CMS for home health agencies to collect this data on
patients paying out of pocket and through their private health insurance
plans creates needless cost, administrative bureaucracy and
unjustifiable paperwork burdens. Ultimately, these costs are absorbed by
individual patients, Medicare and non-Medicare payors of service. There
is no legitimate reason to continue to invade the privacy and waste
precious time and resources to collect this unused data on non-Medicare
and non-Medicaid patients." For photos of the ceremony and other details click here-> http://www.hcaconline.org/hall/sen_allard/sen_allardaward.htm BENCHMARK SURVEY DEADLINE EXTENDED The
deadline for participating in the 2003 HCAC Benchmark Survey of Client
Services and Employment Impact has been extended to January 15, 2004 to
give agencies time to wrap up data for calendar year 2003. The purpose
of this biannual survey is to provide association leaders and lobbyists
with data essential to building a case for stronger support of home
health care. State legislators and government regulators have used this
data and survey findings to guide policy decisions and in some cases
justify expanded funding. The survey
seeks data on the number of clients served, the number of client visits
provided by agencies, the number of full time and part time employees
engaged in the industry and the profile of employment by category of
givers. Also included is data on age categories of clients and services
provided to them. Survey
forms and information are available in PDF format for printer friendly
download by clicking here: HCAC'S WEB SITE READERSHIP GROWS! Our association's web site, www.hcaconline.org
now averages some 140 visits each day, 7 days a week, or some 51,100
visits per year. Every
attempt is being made to keep our membership pages and their web site
links current, however we need your assistance. Please check your
listing and notify us of any updates that are needed. And have you checked out our HCAC legislative gallery lately? More photos, more legislators, more awards. We keep HCAC in the forefront for your benefit!
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