July 16, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wisconsin Association for Home Health Care Announces 2019-2020 “Friend of Home Health Care” Recipients Designation bestowed on select group of legislators
(Madison, WI) – Today, the Wisconsin Association for Home Health Care (WiAHC) announced its 2019-2020 “Friend of Home Health Care” recipients. The designation is meant to publicly identify Wisconsin State Legislators that supported the expanded utilization of home health care as an effective, affordable option for post-acute care.
The 2019-20 “Friend of Home Health Care” recipients include the following legislators:
Rep. Jimmy Anderson Sen. Dale Kooyenga Rep. Chris Sinicki Rep. David Bowen Rep. Scott Krug Rep. Ken Skowronski Rep. Rob Brooks Sen. Chris Larson Rep. John Spiros Rep. Jonathan Brostoff Rep. Amy Loudenbeck Rep. Mark Spreitzer Sen. Tim Carpenter Rep. Nick Milroy Rep. Lisa Subeck Rep. Dave Considine Rep. Jeff Mursau Rep. Rob Summerfield Rep. Barbara Dittrich Rep. Beth Myers Sen. Lena Taylor Rep. Steve Doyle Sen. Steve Nass Sen. Patrick Testin Rep. James Edming Rep. Warren Petryk Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt Rep. Jodi Emerson Rep. Sondy Pope Rep. Ron Tusler Rep. Mary Felzkowski Rep. Melissa Sargent Rep. Don Vruwink Sen. Dan Feyen Sen. Patty Schachtner Rep. Chuck Wichger Rep. Cody Horlacher Rep. Katrina Shankland
“These legislators were critical to our legislative success and championed our most important priorities,” said Lisa Kirker, Chair of the WiAHC Board of Directors. “Home health care agencies across Wisconsin are grateful for the support and partnership of these individuals.”
WiAHC was very active during the 2019-2020 legislative session in educating legislators on the workforce issues facing home health care agencies and how increasing MA reimbursement rates can alleviate financial burden as well as attract new staff. WiAHC was successful in advocating for the introduction of Assembly Bill 447/Senate Bill 416, which aimed to increase MA reimbursement rates by 10% for home health visits. The bill received a public hearing in the Senate Health Committee, and WiAHC is hopeful there will be continued interest in the legislation next session. WiAHC also successfully advocated for legislation that allowed all MA reimbursable services to be conducted via telehealth.
WiAHC is a membership-based association that represents home health care agencies and their staff. WiAHC helps to support the common interests of its members to promote home health care as a quality, cost-effective health care option in our state. Home health care services are not the same as personal care services. Home health care services are medical, skilled nursing services as opposed to personal care services administered by non-health care professionals.
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