HCAC e-news
September 16, 2002  /   Published by Home Care Association of Colorado

PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL LOBBY DAY – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH

(THIS IS YOUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR WISHES KNOWN 
TO COLORADO’S U.S. SENATORS)

MAKE YOUR PHONE CALL, SEND YOUR FAX, WRITE YOUR E-MAIL TO SENATORS ALLARD AND CAMPBELL ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH   

October 1, 2002, is D-DAY for home health providers all across the land. (D is for DREAD – you must have been feeling it!) This is the day that a further 15 percent cut in reimbursement will go into affect for all Medicare home health services UNLESS the U.S. Senate votes to eliminate this short-sighted punitive move...

The U.S. House of Representatives, encouraged by Colorado’s own West Slope Congressman Scott McInnis who serves on the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, has already voted to eliminate the further cut as well as to extend the 10% add-on for rural home health agencies. The decision rests in the hands of the 100-member U.S. Senate and Colorado will wield two important votes.

JOIN DOZENS OF OTHER HOME HEALTH AGENCIES WHO WILL TRAVEL TO D.C. AND WALK THE HILL ON SEPTEMBER 18^TH. JOIN HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO WILL BE MAKING THE PHONES RING IN THE U.S. SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS! MOST IMPORTANTLY SHOW SENATORS ALLARD AND CAMPBELL THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HOME CARE IN OUR STATE.

TALKING POINTS:

1. Thank both Colorado senators for voting last year to eliminate the 15% cut and for signing onto previous year’s letters to the Senate Finance Committee in opposition to the cut.

2. One recent across-the-board congressional mandate (Interim Payment System) basically decimated the home health infrastructure in Colorado. IPS forced more than 80 home health agencies (more than a third in the state) to close their doors.

Averaging to correct for a few just doesn’t work.

3. The new Prospective Payment System for reimbursing home health agencies is brand new. Some agencies are doing well; some are just barely making it. Give it some time. Later “targeted” rate adjustments may have to be made.

4. There are problems with case mix adjusters, flaws in OASIS, and the workforce shortages just add to the mix.

5. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted unanimously last January to recommend to Congress not only to cancel the 15 percent cut but also to put through an increase in the market basket rates.  

MAKE YOUR PHONE CALL, SEND YOUR FAX, WRITE YOUR E-MAIL TO SENATORS ALLARD AND CAMPBELL ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH.

YOUR CONTACT WILL BE RECORDED AND REPORTED TO THE SENATORS! 
IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Another Membership Benefit Brought to You by
The Home Care Association of Colorado

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Home Care Association of Colorado
7853 East Arapahoe Court #2100, Centennial, Colorado 80112-1361 U.S.A.
Phone (303) 694-4728      Fax (303) 694-4869
hcac@assnoffice.com

Last edited by cjf on 08/17/05