Work out three times a week. Get organized. Lose five pounds. Lobby members of Congress.
Perhaps that's not a typical list of New Year's resolutions, but it's not a bad start. For 2008, speaking out for home care should be a priority. The results of stronger advocacy could make a difference in the health of your patients and the health of your business. And because the year ahead is a big election year, home care needs to be part of the dialogue about the future of health care in America.
A survey conducted by the Center on Congress at Indiana University Bloomington showed that an overwhelming majority of Americans feel it is their duty to participate in civic affairs. Yet few actually deliver.
While more than 90 percent of those surveyed believe they should keep in touch with their representatives in Congress, only one in five has actually contacted their U.S. representative or one of their senators. Other studies suggest even lower percentages (as low as 3 percent) will actually contact Congress during a year.
Some social scientists believe it takes only 11 percent of the population to stimulate a substantial shift in social consciousness. Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, offers many examples of how relatively modest efforts and small numbers of people can create large social changes — whether reducing crime in New York City or redefining tastes in fashion.
One in 10 may seem like a small percentage. But as veterans in this industry know, motivating 10 percent of home care businesses to contact Congress is not easy. The state associations, the buying groups and your national association all work hard to expand the number of people who view advocacy as a part of their job in the home medical equipment industry.
It takes active members who are consistently calling and emailing their elected officials to shift perceptions of our industry. Members of Congress want to hear from their constituents and welcome your contacting them.
At the top of industry concerns are bills that would fix the most serious problems with competitive bidding (H.R. 1845 and S. 1428, the House and Senate versions of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Access Act), the Home Oxygen Patient Protect Act (H.R. 621 and S. 1484), and H.R. 2231, which would exempt complex rehab from competitive bidding.
But it's also worth providing some context about home care:
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About 8 million Americans depend on home care for medically required services or equipment, and thanks to home care, many Americans are able to spend the holidays with family in the comfort of their homes.
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Virtually every type of health care short of surgery can be performed in the home. Today Americans receive oxygen and respiratory therapy, mobility assistive technology, skilled nursing, sleep therapy, infusion therapy, hospice and others services and equipment in their homes.
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Advances in technology for home medical equipment and telemedicine are expanding the value and clinical effectiveness of home care.
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Home care serves a vital role in the nation's health care system and is a key part of the solution to the fiscal challenges of Medicare and Medicaid. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt has called for greater use of home and community-based care because “it's not only where people want to be served, but it's radically more efficient.”
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In the event of a pandemic flu, home care will play a large role in treating the millions of Americans who are likely to require care.
Let's resolve to raise home care's active voices to 11 percent or more this year. Let's start with a large turnout at the AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference, March 4-6, 2008. The North Carolina Association for Medical Equipment Services has vowed to bring two providers from every congressional district in their state and has challenged other states to match that level of participation.
That's the type of resolution that can produce revolutionary results for home care.
Tyler J. Wilson is president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare, Alexandria, Va. He may be reached by e-mail at tylerw@aahomecare.org. For more information about the association, visit www.aahomecare.org.
