Q: Serving as interim president (after the death of NAHC President Val J. Halamandaris) what are your goals moving forward?
A: Val had been here since 1982 and since his absence with his illness, and passing, the team has pulled together. Our first goal is to stabilize NAHC. We are evaluating whether we are set up with resources and priorities to address our members’ needs. We are undergoing an in-depth strategic effort of NAHC 2.0. Later, we will look at collaborative advocacy and policy. The last phase is to have a voice related to home care lobbying and regulatory policy.
Q: How can skilled nursing providers work in better partnership with home care and hospice?
A: There is a strong connection between nursing facilities and home health, along end-of-life care and palliative care. These relationships, triggered by the IMPACT Act, allow us to focus on the right services at the right time.
Q: What are the challenges and opportunities for home care now?
A: We see focus on Obamacare and repeal and replace, and not the efforts to modernize Medicare and Medicaid. It’s a challenge just to get attention to our issues at this point. But the opportunities are still incredible. We believe we are in the platinum age of home care.
From the September 01, 2017 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
