Recognizing National Homecare and Hospice Month

RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HOMECARE AND HOSPICE MONTH -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 20, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. GREG WALDEN
OF OREGON
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2004

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize November as National Homecare and Hospice Month. National Homecare and Hospice Month is an opportunity to recognize the importance of homecare as an essential component of healthcare in the United States. While most of us formally recognize homecare and Hospice one month out of the year, individuals and families across our Nation that utilize these services realize the importance of homecare and Hospice each and every day.

Homecare provides a family-friendly, clinically proven way of providing quality healthcare for millions of Americans and homecare has become an increasingly important part of our health care system. The highly skilled services that these caregivers provide have enabled millions of our most frail, older and disabled citizens to avoid hospitals and nursing homes and stay just where they want to be-in the comfort and security of their own homes.

In a rural district, such as Oregon's Second Congressional District, which encompasses over 70,000 square miles, including two counties with no physicians, accessing healthcare service can be challenging. There are 23 homecare agencies serving the 20 counties of Oregon's Second Congressional District. In some parts of Oregon, homecare professionals are the only source of healthcare services. The tremendous dedication and compassion of these professionals truly deserves the recognition of November being named National Homecare and Hospice Month. The care they provide is truly invaluable and allowing individuals to remain in their homes and close to loved ones is priceless.

Because homecare is so crucial to rural areas, I introduced the Medicare Rural Home Health Services Improvement Act (HR 4902). This bill would ensure that homecare providers that serve patients in rural areas will continue to receive a 5 percent add-on payment through 2007. This measure recognizes that the delivery of homecare services in rural areas is more costly because of the extra travel time required to cover long distances between patients. Longer travel times mean that rural caregivers have to devote more time to each patient and are also unable to make as many visits in a day as their urban counterparts. If the extra rural payment is not extended, agencies may be forced to turn away rural patients with the greatest care needs.

Nationwide, homecare represents a family value and a value for families. It's about quality healthcare and quality of life for at least 8 million households across the United States.

According to reports issued by the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee and other independent observers:

Homecare for selected conditions can shorten inpatient hospital stays.

Homecare can reduce the overall costs of care without compromising outcomes.

Homecare can improve clinical outcomes including mortality. This improvement can be striking in degree.

Homecare can improve functional independence and reduce the risk of institutional placement.

For Medicare beneficiaries with selected conditions, formal homecare is the most cost effective strategy for achieving functional improvement compared to in-patient rehabilitation, nursing-home-based rehabilitation, and discharge to home without formal homecare services.

Homecare is expected to grow in the years ahead because of several large-scale trends:

The American population is rapidly aging. The 85-and-older group is the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population.

In the near future, advances in technology will allow virtually every service short of surgery to be delivered at home.

Homecare does not require brick-and-mortar investments since it's provided at home.

Homecare is a critical component of our healthcare delivery system; so today I join homecare patients and caregivers throughout the United States in celebrating National Homecare and Hospice Month.