For Release: May 7, 2024

Contact: 

Brandon Vogel (HCA) bvogel@hcanys.org or (518) 810-0658

Media invited to awards ceremony on May 8 in Saratoga Springs, NY

Albany, May 07, 2024 —The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) is presenting awards this week to five exceptional individuals and programs, recognizing their excellence in the home care and hospice fields across New York State.

“It is our distinct privilege to recognize the extraordinary nurses and home health aides who make their patients’ lives better; the inspiring leaders who make their staff feel valued and want to do more; and the brilliant innovators whose ideas can transform home care services in their areas,” said Al Cardillo, president and CEO of HCA. “They represent the very best of this profession and service, and richly deserve these prestigious honors.”

This year’s recipients are:

Ruth F. Wilson Award: HCA’s highest honor is given to a dedicated individual, who has significantly contributed to home care over their career.

Susan Caputo of New York City is the former senior vice president of business development at VNS Health. Throughout her four decades in health care, including her leadership within HCA and her unremitting state and national home care advocacy, Susan has been committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers, notably marginalized and underserved populations, have access to compassionate and equitable health care. Under her leadership at VNS, she increased hospice admissions by more than 20%; oversaw VNS’ expansion into Nassau County, and brought cardiac hospice, behavioral health, LGBTQ+ health and veterans’ health to the New York City home care market.

Caring Awards: The awards recognize those who have exhibited exemplary compassion, skills and service and/or whose actions exemplify caring in the home care setting.

Chymene Noel is a registered nurse with St. Mary’s Health Care in New York City. She was recognized her unparalleled responsiveness to her patients ensuring the best quality of care at home, as well as being the ultimate team player with her colleagues.

Bibi Ageday, a home health aide with Self Help Community Services in New York City, was honored for continually demonstrating care and compassion above and beyond her job description. Her nominator wrote, “It is Bibi’s true calling to care for others and share her positive outlook with vulnerable, frail older adults.” Bibi works closely with a recently widowed Holocaust survivor, who has benefited from Bibi’s encouragement and exceptional care.

Home Care Champion Award: The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a strong and model commitment to home care patients and agency partners.

Hongwei Zhang of Albany is the senior vice president of operations at Consumer Directed Choices. Her expertise in business intelligence, marketing and human resources has had a transformative impact on her agency and home care at large. Her leadership has resulted in greatly increased access for care by 40% at CDChoices and expanded its geographical service area from upstate NY across the entire state. More patients have been able to find home care and a caregiver of their choice, due to her efforts.

Trailblazer Award for Quality and Innovation: The award recognizes a home care or hospice provider agency, Managed Long Term Care plan or team that has implemented an innovative clinical model, workforce supports, patient or staff education program, or other initiative with improved outcomes in terms of client satisfaction, population health improvement, and/or cost reduction or avoidance.

Jennifer Newberry of Elizabethtown is the director of patient services at Essex County Home Care, one of the geographically largest counties in New York with a substantial aging population.

Jennifer has been the driving force behind its successful telehealth program to monitor patients’ vital signs remotely. Because of this, there has been a marked decrease in hospital readmissions and improved care within her agency. Due to its success, the telehealth program is now expanding to emergency medical services to reduce ER visits and hospitalizations, alleviating the burden on paramedics. Jennifer is also a constant “go-to” by HCA for her field-level perspectives and input.

Media are invited to hear from awardees and learn about their extraordinary work during our awards ceremony. If wishing to attend, please contact HCA’s Communications Director Brandon Vogel in advance. Award photos are available upon request.

HCA Annual Awards Ceremony
May 8, 2024
12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
Saratoga Hilton
534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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For Release: November 20, 2023 

Contact: 

Brandon Vogel (HCA) bvogel@hcanys.org or (518) 810-0658

Innovative new patient teaching tools developed and piloted by Sepsis Alliance, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA), the Eddy Visiting Nurse and Rehab Association (EVNRA), and a team of collaborating home health agencies will support the increasing medical capability and quality of providing complex infusion care treatments to patients in their own homes. 

These new teaching tools will better procedurally equip patients and caregivers to participate in home infusion by providing increased self-care techniques in infection prevention and safety, and in doing so, will promote quality care and avoidance of infections, infection-related complications, hospitalizations, and the significantly higher associated health care cost. Ultimately, it will promote increased access to in-home infusion treatments wherever possible, where patients and families vastly prefer to receive this care, instead of institution-based treatment. 

Home infusion can be used for a wide range of complex conditions and treatments such as chemotherapy and total parenteral nutrition (provision of nutrition through central lines, or “picc lines,” into to the vascular system). Sterile conditions are essential to ensuring quality treatment, patient safety and sustainability of the treatment approach. Patients’ health, safety, treatment success and optimal access to in-home treatments of this type may now all be enhanced through this new initiative, along with major potential for health care cost savings. 

As part of “Drug Resistance and Anti-Infective Home Infusions: An Educational Program for Chronic Disease Patients and Their Caregivers,” a patient education guide, “zone tool,” and animated videos in English and Spanish are now available for patients and caregivers to help reduce the number of drug-resistant infections that can lead to sepsis cases. These resources are available for download at no cost from Sepsis Alliance.  

Chronic disease patients receiving infusions of antibiotics or antifungals in the home setting have an elevated need for education regarding infection and drug resistance, due to their increased vulnerability. Representing 6 in 10 US adults, patients with chronic disease incur 90% of healthcare costs nationwide. Severe infection progressing to sepsis incurs the highest in-hospital cost of any condition.  

It is estimated that 3 million patients receive home infusions each year with the most common treatment being anti-infective infusions. Without knowledge of drug resistance and appropriate steps to mitigate risk, patients are more likely to experience infections. A Pfizer-funded survey by Sepsis Alliance indicates that nearly a third of US adults have not heard of antibiotic resistance, almost half have not heard of antimicrobial resistance and 75% do not realize that antimicrobial resistance means that drugs used to treat infection no longer work.  

“Sepsis Alliance knows that infection prevention is sepsis prevention,” said Thomas Heymann, Sepsis Alliance President and CEO. “Sepsis is the body’s toxic response to infection and if we are able to help individuals reduce their risk of infection, we can save lives from sepsis. Thank you to HCA for their support on this project that we believe will save lives in this vulnerable population.”  

“Home health care plays an ever-increasing role in nearly all facets of health care, and this includes care at home for some of the most complex conditions and treatments. In addition to support from skilled nurses and other home health clinicians, a core role of home health is its teaching role in providing critical education and skill development for patients and family caregivers. Increasing in-home safety techniques and self-management capability, especially in infection prevention, is hugely consequential for patient health and quality care and outcomes for patients,” said Al Cardillo, president and chief executive officer of HCA. 

“In the case of sepsis specifically, the more we can educate our patients and caregivers, the more we can stop sepsis and other infections before they occur. HCA applauds Sepsis Alliance President Tom Heymann and the Sepsis Alliance team for their leadership in this initiative. We thank New York’s home health agencies and patients who partnered and participated in it, including Rochester Regional, the EVNRA, and Visiting Nursing Association of WNY/VNA Home Care Services (Kaleida Health).” 

“I loved working on this project with Sepsis Alliance,” said Laurie Brann, clinical nurse specialist for IV Therapy, EVNRA. The printed materials are wonderful for patients with the color coding to match the levels of risk. The video helps us complete our initial teaching goals with patients and caregivers, such as safe storage of medicine and supplies and having a clean IV workspace.”  

Funding for this program was provided in part by an independent educational grant from Pfizer, Inc.  

About Sepsis Alliance 
Sepsis Alliance, the first and leading sepsis organization in the U.S., seeks to save lives and reduce suffering by improving sepsis awareness and care. More than 1.7 million people are diagnosed with sepsis each year in the U.S. with more than 350,000 adults dying and over 50% of survivors experiencing post-sepsis syndrome and other lingering effects, including amputations. At Sepsis Alliance’s founding in 2003, only 19% of U.S. adults were aware of the term “sepsis.” After over ten years of educational efforts for the general public and healthcare professionals through Sepsis.org, Sepsis Alliance Institute, and Sepsis Alliance Voices, awareness is at 66%. Over 30,000 healthcare professionals across the country have attended sepsis webinars and courses to elevate their practice. Sepsis Alliance is the convener of Sepsis Innovation Collaborative, a multi-stakeholder public/private collaborative dedicated to innovations in sepsis diagnosis and management. Sepsis Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and a GuideStar Platinum Rated charity. For more information, please visit www.sepsis.org and connect with Sepsis Alliance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn at @SepsisAlliance.  

About HCA 
HCA is a statewide health organization comprised of nearly 300 member providers and organizations delivering home and community-based care to several hundred thousand New Yorkers annually, and works closely with Sepsis Alliance in its sepsis intervention efforts.  

About EVNRA
Eddy Visiting Nurse & Rehab Association is a non-profit certified home health agency serving the Capital Region area of New York State for over 115 years. Specialty services include infusion nursing, palliative care, wound care, and diabetes. 

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Albany, May 03, 2023 —The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) is presenting awards this week to eight exceptional individuals and programs, recognizing their excellence in the home care and hospice fields across New York State. 

“We are so pleased to honor an outstanding group of recipients this year, who embody the very best of our profession. Through their skills, dedication and talents, they have made indelible contributions to home care and hospice,” said Al Cardillo, president and CEO of HCA. “It is our great privilege to recognize their efforts.” 

This year’s recipients are: 

Ruth F. Wilson Award: HCA’s highest honor is given to a dedicated individual, who has significantly contributed to home care over their career. 

Ginger Hall, Public Health Director, Jefferson County, Watertown, has been a home care leader for 35 years, championing needs and solutions throughout the field, and especially giving voice for rural and small communities home care needs across the state. She currently leads the Jefferson County Public Health Service, where she has held progressive roles with increasing responsibility, from Public Health Nurse to Quality Improvement Coordinator, Supervising Public Health Nurse and Director of Patient Services.  

In addition, Ginger devoted eight years of statewide service to the HCA board from 2009 to 2017, and was a powerful and effective voice at the Board’s policy, advocacy, member service and visionary levels.  

Under a grant with HCA, she is currently piloting a Collaborative Model of Community Medicine and Paramedicine the Jefferson County/North Country region of NY intended to be a prototype for the entire state. The model integrates home care, hospitals, primary care and emergency medical services, to create a potential new collaborative paradigm in service delivery. Her work has since been shared with the Governor’s Office, Department of Health, Health Plans and others as the model for how innovation and collaboration can be done across the state. 

Caring Awards: The awards recognize those who have exhibited exemplary compassion, skills and service and/or whose actions exemplify caring in the home care setting. 

Yolanda Drayton, RN Educator, Americare, Brooklyn has trained countless nurses and caregivers over the course of her near 50-year career. Many home health aides often talk about their training from Miss Yolanda and the impact she has made on their lives. Recently, she ran Americare’s first Hybrid Training program to remotely train new home health aides to meet workforce shortages.  

Janet Sovik, Home Health Aide, Nascentia Health, Syracuse, is one of her agency’s most reliable and dedicated aides. At 82 years of age, she has no plans to retire. She often works seven days a week to care for her patients and never misses a shift due to inclement weather.  She views home care as a calling, “because you’re caring for someone. You know you’re doing something good for someone that they can’t do for themselves.” 

Home Care Champion Award: The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a strong and model commitment to home care patients and agency partners. 

Tracy Crandall, RN Case Manager, Eddy VNRA, Troy, was recognized for always going the extra mile with her patients and her team. She routinely delivers outstanding patient care and accepts extra visits. She is the first nurse to volunteer for training new hires and allowing them to shadow her for the day. She makes sure that her patients’ needs are met, often donating food for those who might not have enough to eat. 

Trailblazer Award for Quality and Innovation: The award recognizes a home care or hospice provider agency, Managed Long Term Care plan or team that has implemented an innovative clinical model, workforce supports, patient or staff education program, or other initiative with improved outcomes in terms of client satisfaction, population health improvement, and/or cost reduction or avoidance. 

The VNS Health Nurse Residency Program in New York City supports the transition to practice for recent nursing school graduates who are licensed, or nurses new to the home care specialty, with less than a year of nursing experience. It includes classroom activity, shadow visits alongside veteran nurses, and support in the field. Residents are paired with experienced field nurses assigned as their “Preceptors,” who support their development in hands-on patient care skills and help residents become more confident.

Representatives: Monica Cayemitte, Elizer Cooper Audain, Yvonne Eaddy, and Alice Rainford-Miller. 

Media are invited to hear from awardees and learn about their extraordinary work during our awards ceremony. If wishing to attend, please contact HCA’s Communications Director Brandon Vogel in advance. Award photos are available upon request. 

HCA Annual Awards Ceremony
May 4, 2023
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Saratoga Hilton
534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 

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For Release: March 13, 2023 

Contacts: 

Brandon Vogel (HCA) bvogel@hcanys.org or (518) 810-0658
Janae Quackenbush (HANYS) jquacken@hanys.org or (518) 431-7745
Kathy Kirvin (IHA) kkirvin@iroquois.org or (518) 348-7457

The transformative effect of hospital and home care collaboration on patient care is made clear in a new video series developed by the Home Care Association of New York State, Iroquois Healthcare Association and the Healthcare Association of New York State. 

Produced as part of the Statewide Hospital-Home Care Collaborative for COVID-19 and Beyond, funded by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, these videos show how hospitals and home care providers from across the state are working together in a coordinated fashion to provide high quality, patient-centered care.  

“Hospitals, Home Health Agencies and physicians are partnering in models that offer true, transformative pathways for a strengthened health care system,” said Al Cardillo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Home Care Association of New York State. “Patients are overwhelmingly benefited by collaborative, coordinated and integrated care across providers, which makes the system stronger and more capable, optimizes resources and efficiency, and most importantly, maintains the patient at center-focus. These Hospital-Home Care-Physician Collaboratives, which we and our hospital partners have been working to promote statewide, offer solutions that we hope all will consider, including Governor Hochul and the Legislature as they weigh approaches to supporting New York’s health care system.” 

“It was never more evident than when the COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed the capacity of many hospitals to meet the surge in patient demand that collaboration was necessary because the pandemic forced healthcare into the home, and it is a trend that is only growing,” said IHA President and CEO Gary Fitzgerald.

“We saw an incredible amount of innovation during the pandemic,” said Bea Grause, RN, JD, President, Healthcare Association of New York State. “That unprecedented level of creativity and problem-solving resulted in better patient care and outcomes. Our members look forward to more opportunities to transform care and meet the needs of all New Yorkers.”  

Among the videos: 

University of Rochester Medical Center & UR Home Care: The Critical Illness Recovery Program serves patients who are recovering from prolonged stints in intensive care units and are especially prone to Post-Intensive Care Syndrome, a collection of physical, mental and emotional symptoms that continue to persist after a patient leaves the intensive care unit (ICU). Its telemedicine program has reduced the rate of readmissions for ICU patients by more than 50 percent. 

St. Peter’s Health Partners: The Care Transitions Coach COVID ED Diversion Program helps discharged COVID patients safely recover at home. Prior to COVID, emergency departments did not discharge patients on oxygen, which presented new challenges for patients and providers. Daily contact between nurses and patients ensured the program’s success by consistently checking in with patients before they could meet with their primary care physician. 

New York-Presbyterian Queens and St. Mary’s Home Care: With one in five children having a special health care need, the Home-Based Asthma Management program helps children with chronic illnesses such as childhood asthma, one of the most common emergency visits and often exacerbated by environmental issues including mold. Through its telehealth program, home care visits have prevented repeat hospitalizations for sick children due to early intervention, better monitoring and improved communication. 

The three organizations recently issued reports detailing best practices for establishing new models of hospital-home care innovation, meeting the growing demand for mental health services, public vaccination efforts, and partnering with the aging services network. 

The associations look forward to continuing their engagement with providers across the healthcare continuum, community partners and policymakers to advance collaborative models of patient care.  

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Reports highlight collaborative work on hospital-home care innovation, mental health, public vaccination, and aging in place

Local collaboration is the key to confronting public health challenges, according to four new reports issued by the Home Care Association of New York State, Iroquois Healthcare Association and the Healthcare Association of New York State.

As part of the Statewide Hospital-Home Care Collaborative for COVID-19 and Beyond, funded by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, the three organizations’ new reports detail best practices for establishing new models of hospital-home care innovation, meeting the growing demand for mental health services, public vaccination efforts, and partnering with the aging services network.

“When New Yorkers come together to help each other and serve their communities, everyone benefits,” said Al Cardillo, president and chief executive officer of the Home Care Association of New York State. “Our work is not done; collaboration and communication must continue so the healthcare system and professionals are ready for future challenges. The innovative partnerships made will undoubtedly help us continue to address community health needs across the state, particularly those affecting the homebound.”

“What we have learned from the pandemic is that organizations need to continue to find ways to work collaboratively to improve access and quality of care for the people of New York State,” said IHA President and CEO Gary J. Fitzgerald. “The strongest organizations that will emerge in the next several years will be those that have found ways to turn competition into collaboration, have integrated individual and siloed programs into the continuum of care and have found ways to share data in a manner that protects patient privacy, while also sharing data for better outcomes.  The models and organizations featured in this hospital-home care collaboration grant have not only done these things, but they have also identified programs that could be replicated in the future by others.”

“These reports highlight how essential collaboration was during the COVID-19 pandemic and how much potential there is in continued and increased partnerships,” said Bea Grause, RN, JD, president, Healthcare Association of New York State. “We must continue to innovate as we transform our healthcare system and address very serious workforce and fiscal challenges.”

“The collaboration between facility-based care and Offices for the Aging is paramount to support older New Yorkers, caregivers, and families, and allow individuals to age in place. The Association on Aging in New York is thrilled to partner with the Home Care Association, HANYS, and IHA to highlight best practice models for holistic care,” said Becky Preve, executive director, Association on Aging in New York.

Among the reports’ key findings:

Compendium of Statewide Hospital-Home Care Collaborative Models

• Hospitals and home care providers in New York state can build upon the developments made and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to create an integrated, patient-centered healthcare system.
• Strong coordination across the continuum of health and social services can improve clinical outcomes for patients and reduce preventable emergency department utilization and inpatient admissions.

Innovative Hospital-Home Care-Mental Health Collaboration Models: A Primer

• Mental healthcare needs must be considered when making plans to age in place or return to the community post-hospital discharge. Hospital, home care and mental health providers bring unique strengths to work together to serve the whole patient.
• Approaching patient care from a team-based perspective and engaging with the patient to work toward a shared goal can improve cost-effectiveness and reduce medical errors.
• Telehealth has the potential to fill a significant care need as it is transforming the healthcare system by decreasing barriers and increasing access to services. It is an easy and effective way to receive needed mental health services on the computer, cellphone or tablet.

2022 Collaborative Prototypes & Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

• Pharmacies and community-based organizations used their roles effectively as trusted neighborhood healthcare providers to combat vaccine hesitancy and improve distribution. Limited broadband access in rural areas, as well as digital illiteracy, made online registration for vaccine appointments difficult to impossible.
• The ten regional hubs in New York each created a health equity task force (HETF) to organize the equitable distribution of vaccines. The HETFs broke down transportation barriers, reached the homebound population and employed targeted, community-based messaging to reach the underserved.
• An organized reporting structure and single points of contact for reporting and communication can reduce duplicative work, uncertainty and miscommunication. A centralized, real-time reporting system and database are needed for future projects.

Hospital and Home Care Partnerships with Aging Providers: Collaboration Models and Lessons Learned

• The number of New Yorkers ages 65 and older increased by 647,000 (26%) over the past decade. During the same period, New York State’s overall population grew by 3%. There are now more New Yorkers ages 65 and older than there are children under the age of 13.
• Because of the growing preference to age in place, multiple sectors must collaborate to fortify care transitions. The transition from the hospital to the home is particularly crucial. Significant investments must be made to recruit and retain the workforce needed to care for the growing aging population.

The associations look forward to continuing their engagement with providers across the healthcare continuum, community partners and policymakers to advance collaborative models of patient care.

Contacts:

Brandon Vogel (HCA) bvogel@hcanys.org or (518) 810-0658
Janae Quackenbush (HANYS) jquacken@hanys.org or (518) 431-7745
Kathy Kirvin (IHA) kkirvin@iroquois.org or (518) 348-7457

Awardees include home care and hospice caregivers, programs, patients, leaders and organizations in Rochester, the Capital Region, NYC, statewide, and nationally

ALBANY — At its Annual Conference on May 5, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) honored eight exceptional individuals and programs receiving HCA’s highest awards for excellence in home care and hospice. Continue reading “NYS Home Care Association Presents Eight Awards Recognizing Home Care & Hospice Excellence” →

During National Home Care Month, in November, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) recognizes thirty exceptional individuals as part of our Home Care Heroes campaign.

Each Hero was nominated by a home care or hospice agency in many regions of New York State. HCA has created an individualized profile link telling each person’s story with a picture. Please see links to all 30 individuals here: http://nationalhomecaremonth.com/home-care-heroes.

“During the COVID-19 health emergency, thousands of home care and hospice aides, nurses and therapists marshaled their unique skills and capacity for caring to help patients amid new fears, anxieties and intensified needs,” said HCA President Al Cardillo. “Their contributions to the pandemic response are nothing short of miraculous, in large part because their great work has exemplified what home care always accomplishes, during ordinary times, to address countless individual needs and urgencies.” Continue reading “For National Home Care Month, HCA Recognizes 30 Aides, Nurses and Therapists Who Are Home Care Heroes” →

Grant from Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to fund statewide technical expansion of Selfhelp’s online VSC platform so home care providers statewide can offer service, connect patients

The distress of social isolation and technology’s power to help overcome this divide are well understood by all New Yorkers amid the COVID-19 health emergency. Older adults, especially those who are homebound, are uniquely susceptible to these perils – now more so than ever.

To help, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) was awarded a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to leverage Selfhelp Community Services’ Virtual Senior Center (VSC) web-based platform so that all home care providers in New York State can offer the VSC to their patients. Continue reading “HCA, Selfhelp Community Services to Expand Pioneering ‘Virtual Senior Center’ for All NY Home Care Patients Amid COVID-19 Social Isolation” →

Just-announced Mother Cabrini Health Foundation grant will support joint statewide training effort being led by Home Care Association of New York State, Iroquois Healthcare Alliance, and Mohawk Valley Health System

New York’s COVID-19 reopening plan hinges on the state’s testing capabilities. Three organizations are joining forces to help build such potential in home health care, thanks to a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

Under this grant, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) will engage the training team of the Iroquois Healthcare Alliance (IHA) and the expertise of clinical faculty at the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). Together they’ll deliver and promote web-based training for as many as 18,000 home health RNs and other personnel on COVID-19 testing procedures that can be conducted at home. Continue reading “Groups to Train Home Care Clinicians on COVID-19 Testing Vital to NY’s Reopening, Public Health & Safety” →

Findings again validate call for prioritization of supplies, Medicare home telehealth service and billing allowances to protect home care patients and staff

The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) has again surveyed home and community-based providers in New York State – at the COVID-19 epicenter – to learn more about specific impacts of the health emergency on home and community-based services delivered to nearly 900,000 New Yorkers. It is available at here.

This is HCA’s second survey on the home care impact. (The first was conducted in mid-March and shared publicly on March 17.)

Our latest survey, finalized on April 6, further examines: the number of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases among home care staff and patients; what agencies are doing to cope with equipment shortages; percentage changes in patient counts due to COVID-19; the numbers (in ranges) of patients refusing care for fear of exposure; what agencies are doing in cases where patients are refusing care; projected financial impacts for the foreseeable future; and more. Continue reading “New Survey of Home Care Providers Examines Workforce, Supply, Financial Impacts of COVID-19 in NYS” →

“At a time when long term care providers and programs are overburdened by a crushing global health crisis, the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) moved forward today on recommendations that disproportionately impair these safety-net services through yet-further across-the-board cuts and program restrictions.”

“The COVID-19 crisis has impaired home care’s workforce capabilities, created new vulnerabilities for patients at home, and brought enormous, unprecedented stresses on the entire health care support system.”

“Right now, our data shows that home care providers are serving at least 14,000 level I patients at home, defined as those in need of uninterrupted care. Out of all 900,000 patients in New York’s home care system, these are individuals who would otherwise require care in a hospital or nursing home because they are technology dependent or severely ill.” Continue reading “Statement From HCA President Al Cardillo on Today’s Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Vote” →

A Statement from HCA President and CEO Al Cardillo 

“The home care population includes the elderly and individuals with multiple underlying chronic conditions who are at greatest risk from COVID-19. Individuals in quarantine, as well as those self-isolating and possibly living with COVID-19 undetected, are residing at home in most cases.”

“While hospital surge capacity concerns are, of course, extremely vital in this massive public health crisis, essential access to supplies, regulatory flexibility and emergency aid are needed for home care providers serving 900,000 individuals at home all across New York State. A great many of these individuals are at risk and require vital services to protect their health and safety.”

“In a just-completed HCA survey on the crisis, nearly 300 home care providers in every region of New York State report that they collectively serve more than 14,100 priority level 1 patients in the community. These are patients who, without home care, would face a rapid, immediately life-threatening deterioration in their existing health condition or would need to be transferred to another setting, such as hospitals or nursing homes already stretched to capacity. Many of these most at-risk patients are homebound, or dependent on technology or ventilators, with severe life-limiting conditions.” Continue reading “Press Statement: Home Care Needs Priority Supplies, Regulatory Flexibility & Emergency Aid for COVID-19 Response” →

A Statement from Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) President and CEO Al Cardillo

“I echo Attorney General Letitia James’s sentiments regarding the tireless, vital work of home health aides in caring for the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Not knowing all circumstances of this case, HCA is not able speak on those specifics. However, there is no place in New York’s home care system — or in the broader health care system — for any organization to deliberately engage in unlawful practices described in the AG’s press release, or to exploit an individual’s immigration status as has been charged. HCA supports the efforts of law enforcement in breaches of these laws in home care as in any sector.”

Bill would support education and widespread use of screening tool to determine sepsis risk

ALBANY – HCA applauds the New York State Legislature for passing the nation’s first sepsis education and support initiative rooted in the home health care setting and practice. It comes at a time when this so-called “silent killer” is raising alarms across the health care continuum, from the CDC to state and local health departments.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused when the body’s immune system wages an over-aggressive response to an infection, often causing injury to the body’s organs. It affects more than a million Americans annually – 15 to 30% of whom will die.

Only a few states have gradually begun standardizing sepsis protocols for hospitals. New York did so through legislation pioneered in 2013, known as “Rory’s Regulations,” named after Rory Staunton, a boy who tragically died of sepsis in 2012. Continue reading “NY Legislature Passes Nation’s First Sepsis Education and Support Initiative for Home Care” →

ALBANY – Advocates representing twenty-one primary care, mental health, substance use disorder, developmental disability and home care provider associations were joined today by Assembly Health Chair Richard Gottfried and Senate Health Chair Gustavo Rivera urging legislation (A.7977A/S.6376) assuring that a minimum dedicated share of funds is allocated to community-based providers from an existing pool known as the Health Care Transformation Fund (HCTF).

HCTF was enacted as part of the state fiscal year 2018-19 budget. It requires funds to be used “to support care delivery, including for capital investment, debt retirement or restructuring, housing and other social determinants of health, or transitional operating support to health care providers.”  Continue reading “21 Organizations Urge Immediate Action on Community Care Investment Bills” →

ALBANY – With one week left before the State Legislature adjourns, HCA is urging action on several priority bills for home care, hospice and Managed Long Term Care services and supports.

HCA has worked with legislative offices and partners on bills that would provide for: Medicaid rate stability and benchmarks; efficiencies in home care aide in-service reporting; workforce supports; sepsis prevention; and public health and health disparities initiatives. (Background on each of these bills and their rationale are shown in a table at https://tinyurl.com/yyxet48h.)

“System-wide underpayments and fund-flow shortfalls need to be addressed throughout New York’s home care system,” said HCA President and CEO Al Cardillo. “Meanwhile, major workforce demands for nurses, therapists and home health aides must be met in order to ensure access to services, especially for individuals needing care after hospitalizations, or to prevent institutional care episodes.” Continue reading “HCA Presses Bills for Home Care, Hospice, MLTC Rate Stability, Workforce Support & Cost-Saver Programs” →

Media invited to awards ceremony on May 9 in Saratoga Springs, NY

Albany, May 06, 2019 — HCA is presenting awards this week to eight exceptional individuals and programs, recognizing their excellence in the home care and hospice fields across New York State.

“HCA’s award recipients are not only exemplary individuals, but each person has contributed to the home care and hospice fields in distinct ways,” said HCA President and CEO Al Cardillo. “They’ve gone to extraordinary lengths helping a particular patient on a particular day. They’ve improved a patient’s overall experience of care. And they’ve influenced broader changes in the very way that home care and hospice are delivered.” Continue reading “Caregivers, Physicians & Public Servants to be Presented Home Care and Hospice Excellence Awards” →

This ruling upholds the law as interpreted by the state Department of Labor, as applied by the state Department of Health, and as followed in good-faith by providers who have been directed to comply with the 13-hour rule.

HCA continues to support a structure of regulations and reimbursement that ensures proper compensation and coverage of direct-care staff.

We also continue to fervently advocate for state, federal and commercial payor reimbursement to provide wages and benefits reflecting the vital nature and value of the care our home care workers render every day.

In fact, several of our proposals have been advanced for consideration in the current state budget and legislative process. These include a set of bills that would pilot funds to support personnel needs such as transportation, child care, training and education. This package of bills would also require state agencies to conduct a competitive market and labor analysis leading to reimbursement levels necessary for competitive recruitment, retention and compensation of home care and hospice staff.

We call on the State Legislature and Governor to embrace these proposals.

ALBANY – The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) has appointed two policy directors, Alyssa Lovelace and Lauren Ford, with experience in health policy research and association advocacy to further enhance HCA’s efforts in both areas.

“Alyssa Lovelace and Lauren Ford are two exceptional and experienced health care leaders who will help HCA advance our policy and advocacy functions in several critical areas,” said HCA President and CEO Al Cardillo.  Continue reading “Home Care Association Appoints New Policy Directors to Boost Advocacy, Research Functions” →

ALBANY, NY — The Home Care Association of New York State’s (HCA) Board of Directors has appointed Al Cardillo as its next President and CEO.

“HCA is very fortunate to have Al Cardillo’s experience, level of expertise and talent from within its ranks to lead the association forward,” said HCA’s Board of Directors Chair Susan Larman, BSN, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Albany-based VNA Home Health/Visiting Nurses Home Care.

“Al has brought to HCA many years of experience and true formative involvement in the home care field encompassing nearly four decades,” she added. “Since coming to HCA in the role of Executive Vice President in 2007, HCA members have relied on Al’s knowledge and skills in program, policy, legislation, budget and advocacy. He continues and further elevates these assets in the President’s role.”

“I thank the Board of Directors for the honor and privilege of serving as HCA’s President and CEO, and for their confidence in me,” said Al Cardillo. “Each day, HCA’s members provide vital health and supportive services to hundreds of thousands of patients at home. I am proud of their work and to do all I can to support their mission.” Continue reading “NYS Home Care Association Appoints HCA Executive Al Cardillo as President and CEO” →

ALBANY – HCA, IPRO, HANYS, the Rory Staunton Foundation for Sepsis Prevention,Sepsis Alliance, and nine additional partner organizations are holding a first-of-its-kind All-Sector Sepsis Summit for health care organizations and representatives on October 3 in Albany.

Registration, a program agenda and additional information are here.

Media are invited to learn more about the human toll and health care implications of sepsis. (Media announcements about the event are also appreciated.)

The daylong program at the Albany Hilton includes top state health officials, physician experts, representatives of all health sectors, public policy and education partners, and quality and clinical experts. Capital Region media representative Benita Zahn, an anchor at WNYT NewsChannel 13, is also among the scheduled speakers. Continue reading “Oct. 3 Sepsis Summit to Coordinate Response on Lethal Condition Claiming Quarter-Million U.S. Lives, Costing $27 Billion Annually “ →

HCA to present awards at 40th Annual Conference on 5/10; awardees are from NYC, Rochester, Capital Region and Washington, D.C.

ALBANY — Leading up to its state advocacy day on Tuesday, February 6, the Home Care Association of New York (HCA) has issued its budget and legislative proposals for home care, hospice and Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plans.

Accompanying these proposals is a 2018 report on the finance and program trends within the home care, hospice and MLTC sectors. This report is based on a statistical analysis of state-required financial documents, a survey of HCA’s membership, and other data sets. It provides aggregate data on financial margins, accounts-receivable balances, direct-care staffing vacancies and turnover rates, and other important findings within New York’s home care, hospice and MLTC sectors.

“The proposed state budget contains funding cuts, limits on who can access the home care system and other constraints that would further squeeze a vital but already financially stressed system, as shown in our reports and addressed by our proposals,” said HCA President Joanne Cunningham.

She added: “HCA supports the Governor’s funding for direct-care workers in home and hospice care, but providers desperately need a more efficient, workable and transparent process for disseminating adequate funds to health plans and then to providers. This is a fix that is overdue and needed now.”

“The home care system also needs urgent support to recruit and train home care staff to meet the burgeoning need for care, especially given state and federal reforms that are incentivizing a shift in care to the home,” Cunningham said. “HCA’s legislative proposals aim for a robust plan to increase and support the home care workforce.”

She added: “New York’s home care providers are also leading the way in several public health areas and we ask for the state to support this role – specifically in areas of great concern like sepsis, asthma and opioid addiction management, and health disparities. Home care providers can help bend the cost curve and improve quality in each of these public health challenges.”

“HCA’s legislative proposals also seek to sustain New York’s dedication to high standards of care provided in the home,” she said. “We urge the state to continue to enforce the laws and rules that govern who delivers this care and how it is provided. Home care providers are clinical experts in care delivery in the home and the scofflaws functioning without licensure need to be stopped.”

Both reports are linked below.

HCA’s 2018 Budget and Legislative Action Proposals 

Home Care, Hospice and Managed Long Term Care Financial and Program Trends 2018

 

ALBANY — Building on its work to address the risk of sepsis-related death, injury and health care cost drivers, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) has been awarded a prestigious grant from the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) for training and implementation of HCA’s first-in-the-nation sepsis-intervention protocols in home care provider settings across New York State.

Sepsis—a life-threatening, often fatal bodily response—occurs when the body’s immune system turns on the body itself instead of fighting off infection. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 72% of people who contract sepsis had recently been seen by practitioners, potentially signaling a missed opportunity for recognition and timely treatment and intervention. Estimates suggest that 80% to 90% of sepsis cases occur in the community or in an individual’s home, not just in hospitals where most people are familiar with sepsis occurrence. In New York State, the number of sepsis-identified cases rose 68% from 2005 to 2011. Continue reading “HCA Awarded NYSHealth Grant for Sepsis Screening in Community Settings “ →

Home care staff provide vital supports for the elderly, as well as “eyes and ears” for emergency situations

(October 26, Albany, NY) Joanne Hogan, a home health aide from Capital Region-based Visiting Nurses Home Care, is being celebrated by her agency and peers after she obtained lifesaving emergency medical care for an elderly woman at a Palatine Bridge apartment complex. According to EMTs at the scene, Joanne’s quick action undoubtedly saved the woman’s life. Her story exemplifies the compassionate, vital, and sometimes even heroic services of home care staff who are recognized during National Home Care Month in November.  Continue reading “Alert Home Health Aide Rescues Critically Ill Palatine Bridge Woman” →

Schofield Care provides free training for staff and public on the use of lifesaving emergency naloxone spray

As the opioid crisis grips communities in Western New York and throughout the nation, a local provider of home care, nursing and residential care services has taken on a major community outreach effort to educate, train and equip its direct-care staff – as well as the public – on use of lifesaving Narcan spray kits that can save lives. 

Narcan is an FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. It knocks the opiate receptors in the brain, and it can be safely administered by a layperson with minimal training: Narcan does not have an effect on a person who has not taken opioids. If a drug overdose is suspected, protocols call for administering Narcan and immediately contacting emergency medical services.

“Our home care agency is proud to partner with Erie County to help deliver opioid education and Narcan training to individuals in our community,” said Schofield RN Colleen Osborn, the organization’s Director of Home Care Operations. “We offer free-of-charge programs, open to the public, and people who attend leave with samples of Narcan to help our community combat the ever-growing opioid addiction crisis.” Continue reading “Local Home Health Provider Schofield Care Trains, Equips Community to Tackle Opioid Epidemic” →

CDC’s alarms about sepsis crisis in the community join recent high-profile sepsis-related celebrity deaths (including Mohammad Ali and Patty Duke), a rising threat, and Sepsis Awareness Month in September

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made sepsis-prevention a major focus in recent news cycles, and home care providers in New York State have been working to meet this deadly health care crisis head-on, using a first-in-the-nation, community-based screening tool piloted by the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) in partnership with clinicians and quality improvement experts from IPRO and Sepsis Alliance, who have long raised the issue of health care’s sepsis crisis.

As the CDC reported in a major media outreach campaign in late August, 72% of people who contract sepsis – an extremely life-threatening, often-fatal bodily response to infection – got the illness even though they had recently been seen by practitioners, signaling a missed opportunity for urgent treatment and intervention.

Meanwhile, estimates suggest that as much as 80% of sepsis cases occur in the community or in an individual’s home, not just in hospitals where most people are familiar with sepsis occurrence. In New York State, the number of sepsis cases rose 68% from 2005 to 2011. Sepsis is also the single most expensive condition nationwide and the number-one driver of hospital readmissions in New York State. (See the end of this press release for more sepsis facts and resource links.) Continue reading “As CDC Raises Alarms on Deadly Sepsis Crisis, Home Care Takes Action with New Screening Tool, Partnerships” →

Bring The Vote Home-New York is part of nationwide effort to help patients vote if they have a chronic illness or disability that makes it difficult to get to the polls on Election Day

The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) has embarked on a new home care voter outreach campaign called Bring The Vote Home-NY, delivering thousands of voter materials to home care agencies so these agencies can assist their patients with voting from home.

HCA has so far delivered over 10,000 packets to participating home care agencies throughout New York State, with many other home care agencies preparing their own materials to deliver to patients.

Home care patients include the chronically ill, frail-elderly, and persons with disabilities. Many of these individuals are homebound, or their illness makes it difficult to travel to the polls on Election Day. Continue reading “Home Care Campaign Delivers Voter Information, Ballot Applications to Thousands of Patients So They Can Vote From Home” →

Media: Please include on calendar listings, event blurbs, or consider other advance press coverage

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2016

Contact: Roger Noyes (518) 275-6961 (cell); (518) 810-0665 (office)

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Top-tier, nationally recognized women thought-leaders, communications experts, researchers, authors and popular-media voices will share their wisdom and skills as part of the inaugural Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit on September 28 and 29 in Saratoga Springs.

The summit is sponsored by the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) – but this conference is not just for home health representatives. It offers universal skills and insights to empower women executives in all healthcare subsectors: business and finance; lobbying; government policymaking; strategy consulting; law; and other areas where women leaders aspire to enhance their talents, skills and leadership potential within healthcare. To register, download a brochure, learn more about the summit or become a sponsor at the summit, please visit https://hca-nys.org/general-news/hcas-first-ever-women-in-healthcare-leadership-summit-sept-28-29-in-saratoga. Continue reading “Women Healthcare Leaders Invited to Inaugural ‘Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit’ on Sept. 28-29 in Saratoga Springs” →

For immediate release: March 21, 2016

A Statement from HCA, LeadingAge NY, the Healthcare Association of New York State and the New York State Health Facilities Association

Statement from Coalition of Healthcare Providers: Any Minimum Wage Increase Must Be Fully Funded 

The proposed minimum wage hike must not and cannot reasonably move forward without funding to fully offset its costs.

The minimum wage should only be allowed to rise to a level fully matched by immediate funding for the cost impact on providers, as calculated by our healthcare coalition in a rigorous methodology shared extensively with the State Legislature and Governor’s office.

Additionally, the state must provide full funding for each incremental increase of the minimum wage. Continue reading “Statement from Coalition of Healthcare Providers: Any Minimum Wage Increase Must Be Fully Funded “ →

NEWS FROM THE HOME CARE ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK STATE (HCA)
For immediate Release: March 14, 2016
Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 275-6961 (cell), or (518) 810-0665 (office)
Download official release at: https://hca-nys.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PROneHouseBudgets031416.pdf

Statement from Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) President Joanne Cunningham on the Assembly and Senate One-House Budget Bills

While we await the availability of each house’s budget resolutions, thus far we see elements in the Assembly and Senate budget bills that are a step in the right direction, and we thank the Legislature for their ear and support. However, given the mammoth issues at stake in this budget, there remain a lot of moving pieces that need to fall into place for a full picture of home care’s status.

The Senate bill opposes the Governor’s minimum wage proposal. Though negotiations are ongoing, we appreciate the Senate’s recognition of the wage impact on home care and other sectors, and we urge its continued recognition of this impact in the next stages of negotiations. Continue reading “Statement on the Assembly and Senate One-House Budget Bills” →

For immediate Release: March 1, 2016

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 275-6961 (cell), or (518) 810-0665 (office)

ALBANY – If it remains unfunded, the Governor’s $15 minimum wage proposal will be catastrophic for home care providers whose reimbursement is provided substantially by Medicaid and Medicare for elderly individuals and families already struggling to afford services.

Medicaid is capped. Home care cuts have been worsened by new cost increases and little to no support, accordingly. Now, home care faces another multi-billion-dollar unfunded wage mandate within these confines. Continue reading “Get the Facts: Minimum Wage Hike and its $2.19 Billion Impact for Home Care” →

For Immediate Release: March 19, 2015

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

Statement by HCA President Joanne Cunningham: SGR Fix Must Also Repair Damaging Face-to-Face Mandate Plaguing Home Care Providers and Physicians Alike

The SGR bill now being negotiated in Congress rightly fixes the chronic issue of physician underpayment. Unfortunately, it appears that the measure, at present, declines to address another longstanding concern that has plagued the home care industry, complicated its relationship with physicians, and left access to care hanging in the balance.

The history of the physician ‘face-to-face’ rule for Medicare home health is a contorted one. While HCA supports the rule’s intent in a broad sense – to better involve physicians in the planning and oversight of home care services – both Congress and the home care industry agree that the execution of this rule by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been confusing, administratively duplicative, costly, an undue burden on access to care, and well outside the statutory expectations of the Affordable Care Act, as 75 Members of Congress so stated in a letter to CMS in 2013. Continue reading “SGR Fix Must Also Repair Damaging Face-to-Face Mandate Plaguing Home Care Providers and Physicians Alike” →

For Immediate Release: January 13, 2015

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) has awarded Binghamton-based Lourdes At Home as the winner of HCA’s “Home Care Proud” Contest in recognition of National Home Care Month.

In November, for National Home Care Month, HCA launched a contest asking home care providers to tell us what makes them “Home Care Proud.” Lourdes at Home, who submitted the winning entry for HCA’s contest, provides in-home nursing, therapy, home health aide, social work and other services to keep patients in Broome County healthy at home, where patients want to be, and to help patients avoid hospitalizations, ER visits, or premature nursing-home admission. Continue reading “Lourdes At Home Therapy Team Wins Statewide ‘Home Care Proud’ Contest for National Home Care Month” →

For Immediate Release: December 9, 2013

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

ALBANY — On January 1, Medicare home health services face the biggest payment changes since the Budget Control Act of 1997, which caused home health agencies to shoulder enormous losses and led to widespread program closures.

Newly finalized payment changes for 2014 risk a repeat of history if federal policymakers do not act now to delay $800 million in Medicare home health cuts set to go into effect nationally over the next four years.

Continue reading “Feds Issue Biggest Medicare Home Health Service Cuts in Decades, Beginning January 1” →

For Immediate Release: June 11, 2013

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

ALBANY — As the 2013 state legislative session winds to a close, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) urges the Senate and Assembly to adopt vital measures that support the state’s Medicaid Redesign efforts for home care. These bills would specifically offer regulatory relief/flexibility, program sustainability, and clarity in the roles of home care providers and Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plans as they work jointly to serve patients.

Continue reading “HCA Seeks Passage of Bills Supporting Home Care’s Role in Medicaid Redesign” →

For Immediate Release: January 30, 2013

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

ALBANY — Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) President Joanne Cunningham today presented testimony before the Joint Legislative Hearing on Medicaid and the Budget where she focused on the urgent need for home care regulatory relief, transition support, and a stable fiscal environment in this year’s budget and legislative session.

Continue reading “In Testimony at Budget Hearing Today, HCA Urges Home Care Regulatory Relief, Transition Support, Fiscal Stability” →

For immediate Release: January 28, 2013

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

ALBANY — During its 2013 State Advocacy Day today, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) is issuing a Three-Point Plan to Support Home Care and Ensure Success of State Redesign Efforts. The plan urges action on a series of proposals designed so that New York’s home care system can be a viable source of support for major ongoing state Medicaid redesign efforts. The plan calls for:

• Home care transition support so that providers can effectively and efficiently contract with managed care plans, as the state’s Medicaid redesign policies intend.

Continue reading “Home Care Community Issues Plan Calling for Policies to Better Assure Success of State’s Two-Year Medicaid Redesign Project” →

For immediate Release: January 21, 2013

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

ALBANY — The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) today released its 2013 Report on the Fiscal Health of Home Care in New York State which shows that state Medicaid cuts and rising costs have driven home care agencies deeper into the red in 2011, the most recent year of data available.

Alarmingly, while the median operating losses of home care agencies worsened at a steady rate from 2009 to 2010, these losses took a severe turn in 2011 — coinciding with $1 billion in unprecedented state Medicaid cuts to home care over two years coupled with the state’s initiation of new long term care policy changes that risk compromise to home care providers financially if appropriate transition measures are not instituted during this year’s state legislative session.

Continue reading “HCA Report: Cuts Plunge NY Home Care Agencies Further in the Red” →

For immediate Release: November 28, 2012

For More Information

Kristy Wright (Simone Healthcare Consultants), (724) 679-6675

Roger Noyes (HCA), (518) 810-0665

As hospitals look to reduce their rates of readmission and avoid consequent Medicare penalties, a new study by Simione Healthcare Consultants profiles five innovative programs developed by home care agencies to substantially lessen the need for patients to return to the hospital for treatment.

The study, prepared by Simione in partnership with the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA), specifically found that innovative care-transitions programs for a defined group of high-risk patients at just five of New York State’s approximately 230 Medicare-certified home health agencies saved $1.2 million in averted hospital expenses annually by reducing each agency’s 30-day readmission rate, a key quality metric in federal health reform efforts. Continue reading “New Study Quantifies Value of Home Care Programs In Reducing Hospital Readmissions and Costs” →

For immediate Release: May 24, 2012

Contact:

St. Francis Home Care Services: Nicole Peluse (845) 431-8291

HCA: Roger Noyes (518) 810-0665

For countless reasons, St. Francis Home Care Services home health aide Patricia Scully is an ideal caregiver.

Her compassion and outstanding dedication to patients are among the many traits that earned her the “Caring Award” from the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) during a special ceremony on May 9. This award recognizes a caregiver in the home care field who “has exhibited the compassion, skills and service that sets their contribution apart or whose actions on a particular day or over a period of time exemplify caring in home care.” Continue reading “Home Care Association Presents Caring Award to St. Francis Home Health Aide Patricia Scully” →

For immediate Release: May 1, 2012

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 275-6961 (cell), or (518) 810-0665 (office)

Today the Governor’s office announced Medicaid home care spending reductions of $300 million spurred by the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) process. Thoughtful reforms must meet the twin goals of cost-saving and enhanced care. However, the $300 million in Medicaid home care savings announced today largely reflect straightforward program cuts and unfunded mandates alone. We have yet to see what the MRT’s policies ultimately mean for patient care. This outcome will only become clearer in the months and years ahead as some of the more dramatic MRT-initiated infrastructure changes affecting home care are ultimately put in motion. Many of these initiatives have yet to gain federal approval, have yet to be fully detailed or effectively modeled by the state, and, thus, have yet to be tested.

###

For immediate Release: November 16, 2011

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 275-6961 (cell), or (518) 810-0665 (office)

This week the Cuomo Administration issued new guidelines dictating the type of organizations solely authorized to enroll Medicaid patients needing more than 120 days of home care services. HCA vehemently opposes this action which undermines the core of New York State’s long term home care system and could jeopardize the continuity of services for the vast majority of New Yorkers now receiving long term care at home.  Continue reading “A Statement by Home Care Association of New York State President Joanne Cunningham on the State’s Care Coordination Guidelines                                  “ →

For immediate Release: August 31, 2011

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 275-6961 (cell), or (518) 810-0665 (office)

In the devastation of Hurricane Irene, home care agencies and their direct-care personnel are playing a crucial role to help those in need before, during, and after the storm.

“Home care providers and their staff are the eyes, ears and voice for many of New York’s vulnerable patients during an emergency,” said HCA President Joanne Cunningham, noting that, while the public is familiar with the important work of emergency management first responders, home care agencies have a unique role in emergency preparedness and response that may not be widely known. Continue reading “During Hurricane Response, Home Care Providers Take Action for New York’s Vulnerable Patients” →

For immediate Release: June 2, 2011

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 275-6961 (cell), or (518) 810-0665 (office)

The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) is working with the joint Legislative Commission on Rural Resources to advance initiatives aimed at supporting home care services in rural New York at a time of enormous challenges for rural areas and for rural health systems which rely on these critical access community-based programs. Continue reading “HCA and Legislative Commission on Rural Resources Advance Initiatives to Support Home Care in Rural Areas” →

For Immediate Release: March 30, 2011

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

“This budget is catastrophic for New York’s home care system. It will bring ruin to longstanding home care programs, allows unprecedented government intrusion into home care business operations on a scale unknown to any other area of health care, and it aims a half-billion dollars in unsustainable cuts at an already financially fragile home care service delivery system that is, ironically, saving hundreds of millions of Medicaid dollars to begin with.” Continue reading “A Statement by Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) President Joanne Cunningham on the Final 2011 State Budget” →

For Immediate Release: March 3, 2011

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665 office, (518) 275-6961 cell

HCA President Joanne Cunningham today delivered testimony before a joint hearing of the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees urging the Legislature’s rejection of the disastrous, disproportionate and lethal home care reductions and unfunded wage mandates in the package recently approved by the Cuomo Administration-led Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT): a $1 billion impact to home care, according to updated estimates. Continue reading “HCA Testifies at Hearing Against $1 Billion Assault on Home Care” →

For Immediate Release: February 1, 2011

Contact: Roger Noyes, (518) 810-0665

Today Governor Cuomo released a budget containing billions in unprecedented Medicaid reductions, cutting at the heart of New York’s health care system.

While providing no details as to how exactly these destructive cuts would be spread across the health delivery system, the Governor’s budget speech did, however, single out home care using misinformation and politically-motivated rhetoric, again neglecting crucial facts.

Continue reading “A Statement by HCA President Joanne Cunningham on Governor Cuomo’s Budget” →