National Alliance for Care at Home

💡 Join Alliance Strategic Partner MyDirectives on November 19 for a free webinar, Digital ACP: Planning for Life, Not Just the End. Learn how digital workflows can boost documentation rates, engage care teams, and improve goal-concordant care – all while reducing costs and strengthening transparency between patients and clinicians. Learn more and register at the link below! 👇  

Today, the Alliance joined more than 150 patient, provider, community, and advocacy organizations, in sending a letter urging congressional leaders to take action to prevent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from finalizing the proposed 9% cut to the home health payment rate for 2026. "The Alliance will continue to work with policymakers and our stakeholder allies to oppose these harmful cuts and protect access to home health services for millions of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their families.”  -Steve Landers MD, MPH, CEO of the Alliance. Read the full letter: https://lnkd.in/eGUfGeHs 

CMS is preparing to cut funding for home health services – a move that flies in the face of both public opinion and fiscal responsibility.  Home health care saves Medicare money, prevents costly hospital stays, and allows seniors to age comfortably from the safety of their home. These programs are overwhelmingly popular. In fact, a new poll found that 70% of voters oppose the proposed cuts, across party lines.  Washington shouldn’t cut the programs that work. It should protect home health because it saves the government money and preserves seniors’ access to quality care. Read more about how these cuts would impact families in a new op-ed in The Well News: http://bit.ly/3LnlyH3

Continuing our keynote spotlight for this year’s Annual Meeting & Expo, we’re excited to highlight our next speaker! ✨ Dr. Peter Pronovost is an internationally acclaimed physician, patient safety expert, and author of Safe Patients, Smart Hospitals. He’s transformed care in hospitals across the U.S. and around the world, reducing deadly infections and improving quality, safety, and teamwork. At University Hospitals, Dr. Pronovost leads the Veale Initiative for Health Care Innovation – empowering caregivers, strengthening collaboration, and improving patient outcomes, including keeping people healthy at home. His work has earned national and international recognition, including the MacArthur “genius grant.” Don’t miss the chance to hear Dr. Pronovost share insights that directly impact caregivers and the future of care at home: https://lnkd.in/gwPSf6ge 

In this recent op-ed published in The Oklahoman, Enhabit Home Health & Hospice Nurse Amanda Merriott speaks out about why CMS's proposed Medicare home health cuts would harm the patients she serves in Oklahoma. #ProtectHomeHealth "This is about your grandmother recovering after surgery, your neighbor managing diabetes or your friend regaining independence after an accident. It’s about ensuring families in Oklahoma and across the country don’t lose the care that allows them to recover safely, with dignity, and in their homes." Keep reading: https://lnkd.in/eGfqBET8

Patient access to Medicare home health is under threat. In Washington, federal policymakers have proposed an alarming 9% payment cut that would weaken access to care across the country. States are already feeling the squeeze from past cuts. Consider Louisiana, which has lost 14 home health agencies since 2019, leaving more than 34,000 patients without the care they deserve. If finalized, the proposed cut for 2026 would only deepen the crisis, forcing more families into higher-cost hospital or nursing facility care and increasing costs for taxpayers. It’s not too late for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to change course on these proposed cuts and instead protect American’s access to care in a patient-preferred, cost-effective setting. Read more in this recent op-ed: http://bit.ly/42JJsCE

One of the unique and valuable aspects of the Medicare Hospice Benefit is that support extends beyond the patient to their family and caregivers, including bereavement support following death for up to 13 months. And many hospice providers go above and beyond that, setting up grief support groups and offering education and counseling throughout their communities. In a new episode of the #WhoCaresPodcast, hosts Steve Landers MD, MPH and Elyssa Katz are joined by Jason Parsons, President and CEO of Blue Ridge Care to explore the innovative ways hospice providers are filling a critical gap in our healthcare system by offering expert bereavement care when families need it most. To the hospice providers offering grief support across the country: thank you for being there when it matters most. Listen and watch now at the links below!

The countdown to the Annual Meeting & Expo is on, and we can’t wait to introduce the incredible keynote speakers you’ll hear from this year. ✨ Yvette Nicole Brown is an Emmy-nominated actress, writer, producer, and host whose work spans television, film, animation, and live events. She’s appeared in shows like Community, The Mayor, The Odd Couple, and Big Shot, and in films from Dreamgirls to Avengers: Endgame. She also lends her voice to numerous animated favorites for Disney, Netflix, and Apple TV. Beyond the screen, Yvette brings heart and honesty to the caregiving experience through her podcast Squeezed. The series explores the realities of caregiving today – from navigating Medicaid to the emotional journey of caring for loved ones – and reflects the very conversations happening across the care at home community. A dynamic live host and moderator, Yvette has led events for audiences of thousands at Madison Square Garden, Comic-Con, Disney+ launches, and more. She’s also a singer, writer, and dedicated philanthropist, supporting scholarships, DonorsChoose, and Emily’s List. Don’t miss your chance to see Yvette in person – there's still time to register: https://lnkd.in/gwPSf6ge  

A new op-ed in the Idaho Statesman underscores the serious ramifications of Medicare’s proposed home health care cut. A 9% reduction in 2026 would threaten caregivers and limit access to in-home care for residents of rural Idaho – and across the United States. These cuts also risk higher rates of hospitalizations, which are costly for patients and the Medicare system. According to John Gochnour, president of The Pennant Group, Idaho cannot afford to lose critical home-based services. Read more: http://bit.ly/3W4Q0bi.  

🎟️ Limited tickets available! Don't miss your chance to join us at the National Hospice Foundation (NHF) Gala on November 4 at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Enjoy an unforgettable evening of dinner, entertainment and auctions - all in support of the NHF Workforce Emergency Fund, providing aid to home-based care professionals in crisis. Tickets guaranteed only through October 22. - don't wait: https://lnkd.in/gdijUKmW