Congressman Scott Murphy Addresses HCA Members at Annual Conference

Download: Congressman Scott Murphy Addresses HCA Members at Annual Conference

For Immediate Release: May 18, 2009

Contact:

Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665 (518) 275-6961 cell

Congressman Scott Murphy Delivers First Health Care Address at
Home Care Association of New York State's Annual Conference in Saratoga

At the Home Care Association of New York State's Annual Conference today in Saratoga Springs, Congressman Scott Murphy (D-20) delivered his first major address on health care as the newest member of New York's Congressional Delegation.

During the address, Congressman Murphy specifically focused on the importance of patient choice in determining the appropriate setting for care.

"We need to be sure we provide choices for people," said Congressman Murphy. "We need to look at how we provide the whole range of services, from institutional settings to assisted living environments to home-based care, where people are living in the same family home they've always lived in and are able to have health care come to them."

Congressman Murphy added: "We must look at the whole range of solutions and how we can most effectively and efficiently deliver the full range of health care choices. We need to start off by finding the right solutions for people, which means they have choices about where they want to be."

He also shared a personal example of home care's impact on his family.

"My father-in-law who was an internal medicine doctor before he passed away always told us: 'Whatever we have to do — I want to be taken care of at home,'" said Congressman Murphy. "A couple of years before he died, he fell and broke his leg and had to be in a hospital bed for several months. We were able to access home care services where he lived, he was able to stay at home, and his wife and family were able to take care of him. We had a nurse and other professionals come in to help him get through therapy. He got back up, got back to work and went back to practicing medicine. We lived through the home care experience and saw it work."

Congressman Murphy added: "We've got to come up with that panoply of services, we've got to allow patients to have choices, and we've got to come up with the funding mechanisms to make it work."

HCA President Joanne Cunningham said: "HCA is extremely delighted that Congressman Murphy has made time among his many duties and commitments as the New York Congressional Delegation's newest member to voice his support for home care. We are also privileged that Congressman Murphy has chosen HCA's Annual Conference as the venue for his first speech on health care in his new capacity as Congressman."

"We were especially delighted to hear that Congressman Murphy and his family have personally experienced the benefits of home health care and we are thrilled that he is bringing to Washington an appreciation of the provider, patient and family perspectives when it comes to the delivery of quality, cost-effective home care services." Ms. Cunningham added.

Congressman Murphy is the recent winner of a hotly contested, nationally watched special election to fill the seat vacated by Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Governor David Paterson following former Senator Hillary Clinton's confirmation as U.S. Secretary of State.

Before his election to the House, Congressman Murphy has had a distinguished career in both the private and public sector. He was formerly a technology entrepreneur who founded Small World Software. He has served as an aide to two Governors, including as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Roger Wilson of Missouri. For the last eight years, he has worked for Advantage Capital Partners, a venture capital firm. He currently lives in Glens Falls.

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