WASHINGTON—BAYADA Hearts for Home Care (H4HC), a nonprofit advocacy organization made up of thousands of homecare recipients, their families and loved ones and homecare professionals, presented Bill Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), with its Lifetime Achievement Award. This is only the second time this award has been given—the first was awarded to Mark Baiada, founder and former CEO of BAYADA Home Health Care, upon his retirement in 2018.
BAYADA said this award recognizes Dombi's 40 years of dedication to ensuring that homecare is top of mind for legislators and other decision-makers in Washington, D.C. and across the U.S. Dombi has been involved in virtually all legislative and regulatory efforts affecting homecare and hospice since 1975, including the expansion of the Medicare home health benefit in 1980, the formation of the hospice benefit in 1983, the institution of Medicare PPS for home health in 2000, and the national health care reform legislation in 2010. Additionally, Dombi served as lead counsel in the landmark lawsuit that reformed the Medicare home health services benefit, lawsuits against Medicaid programs for inadequate payment rates, and current lawsuits challenging the Medicare home health face-to-face encounter rule and the Department of Labor changes to the overtime rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
“There’s no better example of commitment to advocacy and education in the home health care space than Bill Dombi,” said David Totaro, president and executive director of BAYADA Hearts for Home Care. “He is retiring from NAHC after a long and immensely successful career, and it has been an honor to work alongside him. I know that advocates will remain inspired by his passion and commitment to the cause for years to come.”
In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, BAYADA Hearts for Home Care’s Ambassador of the Year award ceremony recognized the efforts of more than 300 BAYADA Home Health Care employees who volunteer their time to serve as Ambassadors—grasstops home care advocates that build relationships with their state and federal lawmakers. Ten top ambassadors were honored, including eight state winners from Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina; one federal ambassador winner; and one rookie of the year. From those ten, Rachel Miller of Hickory, North Carolina was awarded the overall national winner.
