Washington Seeking to obtain relief from the effects of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, about 200 members from five national home care associations staged a rally in Washington in September.

Though its main purpose was to address key members of Congress about concerns regarding the BBA, an underlying point was emphasized: Unification among home care associations is a must.

"[Unification] is essential," said Ann Howard, vice president for policy for the Silver Spring, Md.-based American Federation for Home Care Providers, one of the industry associations that participated in the rally. "If we don't have [unification], we won't get anything." Howard added that industry associations have too often issued competing proposals, further fragmenting the industry and its goals-and adding to everyone's confusion, including among members of Congress.

Kathy Thompson, director of government affairs for the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, Boston, which also participated in the rally, echoed Howard's sentiments: "The more we can say the same thing on Capitol Hill, the more effective our efforts will be. [Unification] minimizes the confusion among our supporters on Capitol Hill."

Howard said that, to continue the unification effort, representatives of the five groups-which also included the National Association for Home Care, Washington; the Home Health Services and Staffing Association, Alexandria, Va.; and the Home Care Association of America, Jacksonville, Fla.-will participate in weekly conference calls to coordinate strategy and keep all informed about the others' activity.

Overall, the rally was deemed a success and the response from officials in Washington seemed promising. "We got a good response from a lot of people," Howard said. "We received a lot of sympathy and everybody wants to help, but they just don't know how to pay for it. ... And as far as fixing our problems, it's going to take money."-J.P.P