Submitted by Lee Dobson, Area Director, NC Government Affairs (GAO)

To commemorate the start of the 2017-2018 regular session, our staff attended an annual breakfast in Raleigh on January 11.  As hosts of the event, staff had a 30 minute private mingle with members.  We were able to thank lawmakers for the nursing increase last year, and to discuss the less-than-adequate aide rate and the overly burdensome and varying administrative requirements of Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organizations.  Further, Senator Shirley Randleman, a home care supporter, thanked us for keeping her in the loop on a constituent issue where a medically fragile child is in jeopardy of losing his private duty nursing.  To which Randleman said, “For the insurance company to say this baby is stable and doesn’t need home health care is unbelievable.”  She is willing to help in any way possible.  Events like this allow us to continue to build relationship with lawmakers.  Click here for photos.   Special thanks to the following staff members who represented BAYADA:

• Chad Shore
• Dena Hinkle
• Donna Heatherly
• Elizabeth Goad
• Trip Smithdeal