Helen was a patient of our home healthcare agency who was involved in a head on car crash. When she was sent home to receive care through our home healthcare nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and aides, Helen could not walk, she couldn't get out of bed, she couldn't raise her head from the pillow. After weeks and weeks of homecare, Helen is able to walk. After a head on car crash that left her completely immobile, Helen is able to walk.
Helen is just one story of thousands. At every staff meeting our CEO reads letter after letter of testimonials from our patients talking about how our home healthcare nurses, therapists and aides have changed their lives...have helped them remain independent at home and have improved their quality of life. I always think how wonderful it is that they've taken the time to praise an individual for their work and to praise our agency as well.
I'm telling you this because today I am writing a letter that I will be sending to my Congress people in Ohio regarding the proposed cuts in Medicare reimbursements to the home health community. Please know that I'm not doing this for selfish reasons, but for all the patients that have been helped by our care and that of other agencies throughout the nation. Please take a moment to read this letter and if you are so inclined, send one to your own congress people ASAP. Thank you for your help.
Dear ____________,
I am writing today about the proposed $50 billion cut in Medicare reimbursements to the home health community over the next ten years. If Congress goes through with this cut, it would devastate the home health community and force tens of thousands of elderly into nursing homes and hospitals, at best. At worst, many elderly will just go without the care they could be receiving in the comfort of their homes through skilled clinicians working for home healthcare agencies.
I realize that Congress feels pressured to "reform" health care. And goodness knows I agree that there are aspects in desperate need of reform. But the home health care benefit under Medicare is working. It is an example of a cost-effective, patient-centric benefit that should be preserved, not cut. Statistics show that home health is far more cost-effective than lengthy stays in hospitals and nursing homes, or frequent visits to an emergency room. Those less preferable options cost Medicare thousands of dollars per day, while home health care averages about $150 per day. It’s a no brainer from a pure fiscal analysis.
Simply put, people are more comfortable and recover more quickly when they receive care at home versus in an institution. You can’t put a price tag on the human cost of forcing tens of thousands of people into nursing homes and hospitals when they should be receiving care at home surrounded by family members who are actively engaged in their treatment and recovery.
As the broader discussion of health care reform takes place in Washington, please fight for the many people in your district who work in home health care, as well as our patients and their families to preserve home health care.
Regards,