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Homecare allows millions of Americans to
celebrate the Holidays with family at home
WASHINGTON, Nov.
23, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Thanks to home medical equipment and
service providers, millions of seniors and
people with disabilities will share holidays
with their families in the comfort of their
homes. Home-based care is the most
cost-effective setting for post-acute care.
Homecare provides value to more than eight
million Americans who require some type of
medical care in the home. A cost-effective
alternative to institutional care, home
medical equipment can be provided and
maintained for just dollars a day, which is
why homecare is an important part of the
solution to our nation's healthcare spending
challenge.
Over recent years, however, the homecare
sector has been the target of a long series
of deep and disproportionate cuts by
Congress. These cuts have a negative effect
on the ability of homecare providers to
furnish high-quality equipment and services
to the people who require them.
The latest cut will take place January
1, 2011 in
nine of the largest metropolitan areas where
reimbursements will drop steeply and most of
the home medical providers will be
artificially removed from the Medicare
marketplace, as a result of a highly flawed
bidding process.
Five Facts about Homecare
Among the eight million Americans who depend
on medical equipment and services at home
are people with severe lung disease such as
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
multiple sclerosis, Lou
Gehrig's
disease, spinal cord injuries, congestive
heart failure, and diabetes.
In numerous surveys, Americans have
expressed a strong preference for receiving
medical care at home if possible.
Virtually every type of health care short of
surgery can be performed in the home. If
medically necessary, seniors and people with
disabilities can receive oxygen therapy,
wheelchairs, hospital beds, drug infusion
therapy, hospice care, walkers, and other
medical services, supplies, and equipment at
home under Medicare.
A robust system of home medical providers
who compete on the basis of quality and
service allows hospitals to discharge
patients on a timely basis to quality
post-acute care at home, which reduces
length of hospital stays and lowers spending
in the healthcare system. The home is the
most cost-effective setting for many types
of medical care including long-term care.
This is why the federal government
encourages state Medicaid systems to
rebalance their long-term care populations
so a greater proportion of beneficiaries
receive care at home rather than in a
nursing home or other institutional setting.
Home-based care should be a larger part of
healthcare reform discussions for federal
and state policymakers.
In the event of a catastrophic pandemic flu,
home-based care will play a large role in
treating flu victims who require care since
the surge in patients will quickly overwhelm
hospitals.
The American Association for Homecare served
on an expert panel that provided guidance
for "Home Health Care during an Influenza
Pandemic: Issues and Resources," which was
produced with funding by the HHS Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and
Response and in collaboration with the
Centers for Disease Control.
The American Association for Homecare urges
homecare patients, their families, and care
providers to speak up for homecare. To learn
more, visit www.aahomecare.org/athome or
http://capwiz.com/aahomecare.
The American Association for Homecare
represents durable medical equipment
providers, manufacturers, and other
organizations in the homecare community.
Members serve the medical needs of millions
of Americans who require oxygen equipment
and therapy, mobility assistive
technologies, medical supplies, inhalation
drug therapy, home infusion, and other
medical equipment and services in their
homes.
The Association's members operate more than
3,000 homecare locations in all 50 states.
Visit
www.aahomecare.org/athome .
