Why is Advocacy Essential?
Despite the fact that many people in government and regulatory positions agree that home health care is a cost-effective, patient-preferred solution, it continues to be prioritized below institutional care. Not investing in home care will decrease the supply of qualified workers, increase turnover, and compromise the quality of home care services.
That’s why we created the Hearts for Home Care advocacy program. The more voices in support of home care, the better we can protect the industry and the millions of US residents in need of this care. If politicians, media, and key decision makers aren’t aware of the challenges facing home care today–and the essential benefit it provides to our most vulnerable populations—they won’t be part of the solution.
But when organizations like H4HC advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves, change for the better can happen: new laws are drafted and policies are amended to strengthen support of these important services. Advocacy raises awareness and gets things done, which is why these activities are so essential.
How we mobilize Advocates to support quality home health care.
We support our advocates online and in-person, equipping them with the tools and information that they need to support caregivers and their clients. Through our action alerts, we notify advocates of upcoming legislation that could limit access to home health care, or how much caregivers are compensated for their work. With just a few clicks, our advocates can make their voice heard and protect home health care across the country.
We also host state advocacy days, where we organize advocates together to attend meetings and show support at the state capitol. Our advocates are also invited to join our live online educational seminars, so they can learn from experienced advocates, and meet other members who share their passion and challenges.
Action Alerts
It's critical that we as an advocacy movement educate our lawmakers about the importance and urgency of supporting home health care issues. Taking action via these campaigns takes less than two minutes, but has a major impact in illustrating to lawmakers and their staffers what issues matter most to their constituents. In just a few clicks, you can make a difference.
Advocacy Days
Together, we’ll advocate for key issues, including equitable Medicaid reimbursement, reducing regulatory burdens, and safeguarding access to high-quality, cost-effective in-home care. No prior advocacy experience? No problem! H4HC will guide you every step of the way. You’ll be part of a group led by experienced advocates, with all legislative meetings pre-scheduled by H4HC staff.
Community
We encourage our advocates to share their stories, experience, and triumphs with one another during our in-person and online events.
Everyone is invited to join our national advocacy program, where we strive to make quality home health care available to everyone.
Important issues for H4HC Advocates
Access to Care
Children, adults, and seniors who are prescribed home care services struggle to find the care they need because of staff shortages and cuts to medicare and medicaid.
Supporting Caregivers
As professional caregivers leave the home care industry to find higher-earning jobs, the home care workforce continues to shrink. By supporting the frontline workers, H4HC improves the level of care clients receive and allow caregivers to follow their passion and care for their clients.
Protecting an aging population
The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of adults aged 65 years and older will increase by almost 7% by the year 2025. Within the same timeframe, the population of adults aged 18-64 is only expected to grow by 4%, leaving more seniors without care and support.
Supporting Health Care on a National and State level
Each year, state and federal governments propose new policies and legislation that affect the home health care industry. These regulations directly affect in-home caregivers and the clients they care for. H4HC is dedicated to developing positive and innovative reforms to help improve the access, quality, and effectiveness of home health care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations. On the national level, H4HC focuses on protecting four key programs.
Home Health
More than 12 million Americans receive home care each year, with that number projected to climb as our population grows older and people are discharged from hospitals quicker and sicker.
Home care is specialized health and social services provided to individuals where they live, keeping them safe and independent in the comfort of their own homes. Recipients often include older Americans, children and adults of any age who are disabled or recuperating from injury, and the chronically or terminally ill.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps cover medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. The federal government has general rules that all state Medicaid programs must follow, but each state runs its own program. This means eligibility requirements and benefits can vary from state to state.
Medicaid offers benefits that Medicare doesn’t normally cover, like nursing home care and personal care services.
Medicare
Medicare is federal health insurance for people aged 65 and older, as well as some with certain disabilities or conditions. A federal agency called the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) runs Medicare. Because it’s a federal program, Medicare has set standards for costs and coverage.
People with Medicare pay part of the costs through monthly premiums for medical and drug coverage, deductibles and coinsurance.
Hospice
Hospice is for individuals with serious illnesses, and offers a compassionate path focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life. When curative treatments are no longer available, a dedicated team provides comprehensive support for the individual and their family.
This specialized care manages symptoms to provide peace and comfort, and includes bereavement support for loved ones through their time of grief.
Supporting Frontline Caregivers
It’s important to understand why quality home health care is so important, not only to those who depend on it, but as a vital component in a modern healthcare system. Without adequate investment in state and federal home care programs, providers cannot pay home health aides a fair wage.