In this episode of Help Choose Home, we’re joined by Bill Dombi, Esq., the president of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, where he also serves as the director for the Center for Healthcare Law and the executive director of the Homecare and Hospice Financial Managers Association.
With nearly 40 years of experience in healthcare law and policy, Bill has been heavily involved with healthcare and hospice policy at the local and national level since 1975. He has also advocated for home healthcare reform under numerous presidential administrations.
Topics discussed include:
- Ways consumers can support congressional initiatives to provide more home care options.
- The future of care at home in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The history of how the initiative to make home care a more accessible option has bridged political divides and united the country.
Conversation Highlights:
Bill Dombi discusses his role leading care at home efforts and initiatives, and why he believes we’re living through a special time for bringing healthcare home. The pandemic has raised awareness of the home care options available to people, putting an emphasis on the safety and the personal touch of receiving care at home.
Over the last twelve months, there’s been a “revolution of thinking” at the national level about home care with new technologies, telehealth, skilled nursing services and more taking center stage.
Bill discusses how a consumer can be part of this revolution by getting in touch with their congressional representatives. Many people are contributing to conversations around healthcare policy by bringing forth personal stories about those receiving care at home in their own states. These personal narratives can be invaluable in swaying lawmakers.
The National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) features an advocacy portion of the website where consumers can enter a ZIP code and send a pre-crafted or custom message to their representatives. Bill encourages concerned citizens to send a digital note, write a letter or place a call to make their voices heard.
As the population ages, demand for home care is beginning to exceed the resources available. Home care is facing a staffing crisis, and more home care aides, nurses and therapists are sorely needed. Improved compensation, access to benefits and better support for the workforce at the policy level could open up more opportunities for those seeking a career in home health. Bill believes that the future of healthcare will be situated in the home, and that patients will increasingly elect to receive treatment at home.
Bill outlines trusted organizations where consumers can find more information about healthcare at home, then shares his hopes that his grandchildren will be able to have home care as a first option.
After listening to this episode, you’ll come away with a greater understanding of the way technological advancements are making care at home a more viable option for countless Americans. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of the history of home care legislation and learn how to get involved in new initiatives to bring healthcare home.
You can listen to this episode here, or on Apple Podcasts, Google, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.
To learn more about how technological advances in the age of a pandemic are changing the way home healthcare happens, listen to my interview with Ken Albert, RN, Esq., president and CEO of Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice. Learn about the future of American public health in a post-pandemic world and the importance of educating primary care providers and consumers about palliative care and hospice care.
If this episode has been helpful, be sure to leave a five-star review and share the podcast with your friends to help us in the national effort to educate about home healthcare options! You can connect with the host Merrily Orsini on Twitter: @MerrilyO.
Sponsors
The Help Choose Home podcast series is a collaborative effort by the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Axxess and corecubed to educate the public about the many benefits of the in-home care industry, which includes non-medical home care, private duty nursing care, medical home health, hospice and other in-home health and wellness services.
Access the full Help Choose Home podcast library here.
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