Currently, the healthcare landscape is experiencing unparalleled changes, driven by technological progress, evolving patient needs, a global staffing crisis, and regulatory changes that have reshaped the way we approach healthcare.
Many home health and hospice providers anticipate future healthcare reform, but the difficult stress of today’s workplace still falls firmly on the shoulders of front-line clinicians, nurses, and care providers. In order to reap the benefits of realistic healthcare reform, home health and hospice providers must learn to become active participants in advocacy or continue to face downfall (OJIN).
What is Healthcare Advocacy?
Advocacy is taking action to support a cause you believe in. As caregivers, we believe that the power of quality care and the ability to provide the best care possible to our patients’ advocacy is the best way to advance our cause. Especially since the home health and hospice communities are so uniquely centered around patients and family needs. This is why it’s crucial that providers lead the conversation. We have the insight—and the workforce numbers—to reimagine and reshape the system in a way that redesigns our working environment without harming care quality.
Why Become a Home Health & Hospice Advocate?
Home health and hospice providers have an obligation to support and care for patients during vulnerable times. For providers to continue delivering quality care, we need policies and regulations that:
- ensure healthcare offices, hospitals, and hospices are empowered to deliver care.
- agencies have the capacity to enforce licensure and certification requirements.
- patients and families understand the benefits of home health and hospice care (HAN).
Although it can be daunting to think about, public policy impacts you, your organization, and the patients you serve. As caregivers, we need to educate and encourage our legislators to champion policies that will make home health and hospice more accessible. By becoming an advocate, you are taking an active role to speak up for the experiences you have seen first-hand.
Lawmakers look to you, their constituents, for information and advice on what’s wrong and how it can be fixed. We need advocates who have intimate knowledge of our healthcare system to help educate lawmakers and improve access to home health, hospice, palliative care and so much more!
How to be An Effective Advocate for Home Health & Hospice
In a single session of congress, over 10,000 bills will be introduced, but only a handful will be related to home health, hospice, or palliative care. As advocates, we keep our lawmaker’s attention on bills and reinforce whether they should support or oppose those issues. For that reason, much of advocacy is about building relationships, especially with legislators to influence policies. Here some practical ways you can advocate:
Be aware of current policies. It’s important to know why and how current legislation influences certain areas of home health and hospice care. Find a subject you feel strongly about or investigate further into questions you face currently in your workplace. As a resource, most advocacy networks will have policy priority documents or advocacy training videos that break down complicated bill jargon and legislative processes.
Become a member of a professional advocacy group. Healthcare issues are complex and systematic—so join a growing community that is organized and certified to understand the legal process. Most even have an existing relationship with leaders and policy makers. They also alert you when action is needed and how to make the most of legislative meetings. Remember, becoming an effective advocate takes time and experience. One of the best ways to learn is by volunteering to serve on a committee, or even becoming a point person for an issue (Vituity).
Advocacy Organization Resources:
- National Association for Home Care & Hospice
- Hospice Action Network
- American Medical Association
- American Nurses Association
- Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Contact legislators about policies and explain why they matter to you. Powerful stories make a difference. Use your voice to share about the patients and families that rely on care from providers just like you. This can come in the form of a phone call, brief email, anecdote. When an elected official is making a case for your issue, you want them to remember you and your story as a reliable resource for information. According to HAN, they recommend at least four connections with a member of congress a year. This demonstrates trust, shows honorable activism, and portrays you as a reliable resource for information.
Take action now. If there is an issue you feel strongly about, gather support, and make your voice heard. You can do this at work with your fellow providers or in your local community. Keep in mind, advocacy can be a long process–but don’t lose momentum. Now you can advocate on behalf of caregivers and home health and hospice patients at the touch of your fingertips with the NAHC Legislative Action Center.
Healthcare leaders should encourage staff to:
- Grow their knowledge about the home health care and hospice industries & policies.
- Illuminate the legislative process and how you as an advocate can participate.
- Clarify what grassroots advocacy is and the avenues available.
- Enable you to feel empowered to share your story and personal experiences.
- Illustrate what it’s like to talk with/visit an elected official (NAHC).
As we rally together for home health and hospice, advocating for essential changes to our system, highlighting sector challenges and continuously stressing the importance of collaboration–we will be a voice for policy reform and increased support. Your role in advocacy is essential. Your role in advocacy is unique. Your role in advocacy is impactful.
At CareXM, We Stand for Change.
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