October 23, 2023

Home healthcare representatives from Nebraska met with congressional staff members on Capitol Hill to appeal for support against proposed Medicare Home Health Reimbursement Rate cuts slated for 2024. Barbie Long, Director of Community HealthCare and Hospice in McCook, along with Carrie Edwards from Mary Lanning Home Care, Shelly Koch from Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, and Janet Seelhoff, Executive Director of the Nebraska Association for Home Healthcare and Hospice, joined forces in a bid to halt the impending cuts and ensure continued access to vital home-based healthcare services.

Meeting with Congressional Staff

The Nebraska delegation, who were also attending the National Association for Home Care & Hospice Annual Conference just outside Washington, D.C., engaged in discussions with Jesse Ferguson from Congressman Mike Flood’s staff and Ted Sacasa from Senator Deb Fischer’s staff. Their primary agenda was to secure co-sponsorships for the Preserving Home Health Access Act, a legislative initiative aimed at pausing additional Medicare Home Health Reimbursement Rate reductions planned for 2024.

Impact of Proposed Cuts

During the meeting, Long, Edwards and Koch outlined the challenges faced by their respective organizations due to dwindling reimbursement rates, escalating costs of supplies, and inflation-induced financial strain. They emphasized the adverse effects these cuts would have on Nebraska's home health agencies, potentially pushing 56% of them into operating with negative margins. The closure of home health agencies in Beatrice and Ainsworth served as stark examples of the ongoing struggles within the industry.

Advocacy for Home-Based Care

The delegation highlighted the critical role played by home healthcare services in keeping Nebraskans at home, thereby preventing costly re-hospitalizations and institutional care. Advocates stressed the substantial long-term savings for both the state and federal government through the preservation of home health services.

Call to Action

Congressman Flood and Senator Fischer were urged to support the Preserving Home Health Access Act, a plea resonating with home healthcare providers across Nebraska. The advocates called on their peers to continue advocating for their patients and agencies, emphasizing the importance of their efforts in sustaining the home care industry in the state.