Five Important Facts about Homecare
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – WASHINGTON, — Thanks to home medical equipment and service providers, millions of seniors and people with disabilities will share holidays with their families in the comfort of their homes. Home-based care is the most cost-effective setting for post-acute care.
Homecare provides value to more than eight million Americans who require some type of medical care in the home. A cost-effective alternative to institutional care, home medical equipment can be provided and maintained for just dollars a day, which is why homecare is an important part of the solution to our nation’s healthcare spending challenge.
Over recent years, however, the homecare sector has been the target of a long series of deep and disproportionate cuts by Congress. These cuts have a negative effect on the ability of homecare providers to furnish high-quality equipment and services to the people who require them. The latest cut will take place January 1, 2011 in nine of the largest metropolitan areas where reimbursements will drop steeply and most of the home medical providers will be artificially removed from the Medicare marketplace, as a result of a highly flawed bidding process.
Five Facts about Homecare
1. Among the eight million Americans who depend on medical equipment and
services at home are people with severe lung disease such as chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s
disease, spinal cord injuries, congestive heart failure, and diabetes.
2. In numerous surveys, Americans have expressed a strong preference for
receiving medical care at home if possible.
3. Virtually every type of health care short of surgery can be performed in
the home. If medically necessary, seniors and people with disabilities
can receive oxygen therapy, wheelchairs, hospital beds, drug infusion
therapy, hospice care, walkers, and other medical services, supplies, and
equipment at home under Medicare.
4. A robust system of home medical providers who compete on the basis of
quality and service allows hospitals to discharge patients on a timely
basis to quality post-acute care at home, which reduces length of
hospital stays and lowers spending in the healthcare system. The home is
the most cost-effective setting for many types of medical care including
long-term care. This is why the federal government encourages state
Medicaid systems to rebalance their long-term care populations so a
greater proportion of beneficiaries receive care at home rather than in a
nursing home or other institutional setting. Home-based care should be a
larger part of healthcare reform discussions for federal and state
policymakers.
5. In the event of a catastrophic pandemic flu, home-based care will play a
large role in treating flu victims who require care since the surge in
patients will quickly overwhelm hospitals. The American Association for
Homecare served on an expert panel that provided guidance for “Home
Health Care during an Influenza Pandemic: Issues and Resources,” which
was produced with funding by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Preparedness and Response and in collaboration with the Centers for
Disease Control.
The American Association for Homecare urges homecare patients, their families, and care providers to speak up for homecare. To learn more, visit www.aahomecare.org/athome or http://capwiz.com/aahomecare.
The American Association for Homecare represents durable medical equipment providers, manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. Members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require oxygen equipment and therapy, mobility assistive technologies, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medical equipment and services in their homes. The Association’s members operate more than 3,000 homecare locations in all 50 states. Visit www.aahomecare.org/athome.
Web Site: http://www.aahomecare.org
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