HCA's 2009 Annual Conference

'Home Care — The Treasure of the Continuum'

May 17-19, 2009

Saratoga Springs, New York

HCA's Annual Conference offers the best in education, information and insights so that you can continue to make home care a Treasure of the Continuum, in keeping with the 2009 Conference theme.

On May 17-19, HCA held its Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs, home of world-famous thoroughbred racing and a top destination for travelers seeking a landscape of unique shops, Victorian architecture, a vibrant culture of dining and entertainment and a bounty of outdoor activities in the nearby Adirondacks.

Hundreds of HCA members and home care community colleagues gathered on May 17 to 19 to gain critical updates on important policy topics, honor the shining stars of home care during HCA's Annual Awards dinner, regroup, recharge, reconnect and prepare for the future.

In her annual address officially kicking off the three-day Conference on May 18, HCA President Joanne Cunningham reflected on the extraordinarily difficult advocacy challenges that confronted the home care community during the 2009-10 State Budget season, including the Governor's half-a-billion dollars in proposed home care cuts and damaging restructuring proposals, the majority of which were later rejected from the budget or significantly scaled back as a direct result of HCA and member advocacy.

Ms. Cunningham noted that HCA met these unprecedented budget challenges proactively by:

• Developing a comprehensive legislative package — the Home Care Accessibility and Efficiency Improvement Act (HCA-EIA) — with positive features for tapping home care's cost-saving potential as a counterpoint to draconian cuts;
• Working closely with our allied partners from other health associations to forge a strong unified voice on policies that directly impact our shared constituencies, including our efforts with the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) to prepare a joint report on the perilous fiscal condition of New York's provider community and our work with the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) to ensure the proper allocation of increased federal Medicaid (FMAP) dollars; and
• Conveying the story of home care through our "On the Edge" publication and other public affairs efforts.

Ms. Cunningham also noted HCA's continuing work to broaden and diversify our reach through HCA's newly formed Political Action Committee and our recent venture into the world of online social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, and You Tube — a further means of connecting with members and communicating the value of home care to external audiences.

HCA's Annual Conference also featured Congressman Scott Murphy's first speech on health care since joining New York's Congressional Delegation (see video above); our Annual Awards Ceremony; and full slate ofl insightful education sessions.

To read all about our Conference and to view photos of our Annual Award winners, please see the May 22 edition of HCA's weekly newsletter, ASAP.

»Visit last year's (2008) Annual Conference page