Legislative Advocacy
FAQs
NAHC members belong to the leading voice for home care and hospice
before Congress, the White House, and government agencies. Since
1982, NAHC has played an active role in educating elected representatives
about the importance of home care and hospice and in molding
legislation. NAHC's legislative staff is on the inside track
with respect to activities in the Congress, providing the association's
members with the latest breaking changes affecting home care
and hospice.
NAHC's premiere lobbying staff works tirelessly to ensure that
the membership's legislative goals are met. NAHC has earned the
respect of key leadership and committee members of both parties
in the House and Senate. NAHC also works in coalition with consumer
and other provider organizations on issues of mutual concern.
NAHC has multiplied its "punch" by enlisting the help of individual
members and state associations in its legislative and educational
efforts. As a result, Congressional understanding of the roles
of home care and hospice has increased and numerous victories
for home care and hospice have been achieved.
Throughout the year, NAHC's legislative staff accumulates issues
and suggestions from NAHC members for the next year's legislative
agenda. The staff uses these suggestions to develop NAHC's Legislative
Blueprint for Action. The Blueprint is presented to the NAHC
membership at the spring National Policy Conference in Washington,
DC.
Here are some examples of the questions NAHC
legislative staff receive from members:
- Who is my member of Congress? What is his/her position on
home care and hospice issues? On what committees does he/she
serve? How might he/she be helpful in the association's lobbying
efforts?
- I want my Member of Congress/Senator to go on a home care
visit; what do I need to know to make this happen? How can
my agency use a Member of Congress' visit to the greatest advantage
for the cause of home care and hospice?
- What legislation is pending that will affect my agency's
operations in coming months and years? What is the prognosis
for its passage? What can I do to help?
- What home care and hospice provisions are in the most recently
passed Medicare bill?
- I'm planning my agency's budget for the next year. What recent
legislative or regulatory actions might affect this process?
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