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  Press Releases
For Immediate Release: July 8, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
Home Health Care Services in New York State Uniquely Challenged by Punishing Gas Prices
Solutions to nation's fuel crisis must consider impact on most vulnerable citizens, particularly those with high-need medical conditions requiring in-home care
In weighing the impact of rising gasoline prices and solutions for our current fuel crisis, the media and government officials should consider a vital sector of health care especially vulnerable to exorbitant fuel costs — home health care — as well as the patients who are served by visiting home health nurses, aides and therapists.
Rising gas prices present a unique challenge to the delivery of home health care services throughout New York State, and across the nation, said Joanne Cunningham, President of the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA), a statewide organization of home care providers.
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For Immediate Release: June 11, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
A Statement from HCA President Joanne Cunningham on the State's Proposed Home Health Aide Registry
HCA commends Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon and Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried for advancing a plan to mend critical gaps in the state's home health aide certification structure.
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For Immediate Release: May 19, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665 (518) 275-6961 cell
A Statement by HCA President Joanne Cunningham in Response to the Governor's Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) Legislation
HCA and our allied health care associations have worked with providers, the Administration and the Legislature to advance a comprehensive plan for strengthening New York's Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP), which provides an array of in-home health services to thousands of New Yorkers whose chronic health care needs would only otherwise be met in an institutional setting.
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For Immediate Release: May 15, 2008
Contact:
HCA: Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665
NYAHSA: Dan Heim (518) 449-2707, ext. 128
HANYS: William Van Slyke (518) 431-7770
HCP: Travis Wattie (518) 463-1118, ext. 832
Allied Health Care Organizations Urge Support of Long Term Home Health Care Program Measure
Bill introduced by Senator Hannon in collaboration with joint health care associations would enhance LTHHCP patient access and program operation
The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA), Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) and New York State Association of Health Care Providers (HCP) today urged support by the Legislature and Governor for a bill (S.8092) recently introduced by Senate Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon to enhance New York's Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP).
"HCA and our allied associations are extremely grateful for Senator Hannon's sponsorship and collaboration with the health care community in developing this critical roadmap to strengthen and sustain long-term home health care services for New Yorkers in greatest need," said HCA President Joanne Cunningham.
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For Immediate Release: April 17, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665 (518) 275-6961 cell
A Statement From HCA President Joanne Cunningham on the Attorney General’s Investigation of Home Care
»Download the release
HCA certainly supports efforts to find and prosecute criminals who undermine the integrity of our health care system. Providers of quality home care services have an equal, if not greater, stake in curbing fraud and abuse because the misdeeds of a few rogue individuals have the potential to tarnish the entire home care community.
The Attorney General's office has already acknowledged that the wider scope of this investigation is not triggered by suspicions of guilt, stating that subpoenas were issued to several upstate agencies that were in no way suspected of any wrongdoing.
HCA hopes that this broad-brush approach doesn't impair the vast majority of agencies that are diligent and committed to providing quality home care to those most in need.
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Committed to the principles of high-quality and cost-effective community based health care, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) assists its members on state and federal legislation, regulations and reimbursement issues pertinent to the home health field. As the premier home health care association in New York State, HCA represents more than 400 home health care providers, individuals and associate members who collectively provide service and support to thousands of New Yorkers.
For Immediate Release: April 1, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665 (518) 275-6961 cell
HCA Calls State Budget a Win for New York’s Home Health Care System
Home care community applauds $80 million in critical funding restorations
Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) President Joanne Cunningham called the final State Health Care Budget adopted today by the Legislature a "clear show of support for New York's home health care patients and the providers who serve them."
The Budget restores approximately 80 percent of the over $100 million in home health care cuts originally proposed in the 2008-09 Executive Budget.
"By restoring Budget cuts that would have certainly jeopardized services for patients in greatest need, state legislative leaders have made clear their recognition that community-based health care is a vital part of New York's overall health system," Cunningham said.
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For Immediate Release: March 24, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
Home Care Association Speaks out on Congestion Pricing
The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) today released a letter sent to New York City and State officials requesting that home health care workers be excluded from any congestion pricing system.
"We have reviewed the Mayor's plan and alternative systems and respectfully request that home care workers be excluded from any final congestion pricing system," wrote HCA President Joanne Cunningham. "New York City and the State have made a conscious effort to support the use of home and community-based services so that individuals can receive services at home, in the most preferred and appropriate setting. A congestion pricing system that applies to home care workers runs contrary to such efforts."
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For Immediate Release: March 5, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665 (518) 275-6961 cell
HCA Applauds Legislature's Rejection of Home Care Budget Cuts
Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) President Joanne Cunningham today praised the Legislature's restoration of vital home health care funding.
"New York's legislative leaders have followed through in advancing proposals to reject damaging cuts to home health care," Cunningham said. "The restoration of our basic reimbursement structure is essential to ensuring that New York's most vulnerable patients receive the services they need in a setting best suited to their health and recovery — their homes."
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For Immediate Release: March 5, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665 (518) 275-6961 cell
New York’s Top Legislative Leaders Address Home Health Care Advocates Rallying Against $100 Million in Proposed State Budget Cuts
High-ranking elected leaders today voiced their support for home health care during the Home Care Association of New York's (HCA) Legislative Advocacy Day in Albany.
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried, Senate Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon and Senate Aging Committee Chairman Martin Golden all addressed a record turnout of home health care advocates opposing the more than $100 million in proposed 2008-09 Executive Budget cuts — the deepest cuts in recent memory.
Assembly Speaker Silver said: "I understand your being confused since we know that Governor Spitzer has always indicated his support for community-based health care."
Speaker Silver added: "I will promise you that I and my Assembly colleagues will do everything that we can to mitigate the pain that you have found in the Executive Budget. Believe me, we know you score no points forcing people to receive treatment in a facility rather than in the comfort of their own homes."
Senate Majority Leader Bruno said: "Everybody talks about getting people out of the hospital to recover in their homes, right? And yet, just saying it doesn’t get it done. You need the resources, you need the system. My commitment on behalf of my Conference is we're going to partner with you and talk with you. You help us fix what the Governor is breaking in his budget."
Assembly Health Committee Chairman Gottfried said: "We will, on the Assembly side, buy back as much of the health cuts that are in the budget as we can find money for, and that will certainly include the home care sector, which we understand is proportionately the hardest hit sector in the health part of the budget."
Senate Health Committee Chairman Hannon said: "We can keep people in institutions for a shorter period of time, we can cut the length of stay in hospitals. But you know, when they do get out of the hospital, or when they are discharged from rehab in the nursing home, it doesn't mean the human body gets better quicker. Somebody has to take care of those folks. And I know that's you. And I know you can’t do it if you can't pay your staff, if you can't run your operation."
Senate Aging Committee Chairman Golden said: "Now if we are really interested in our seniors and those in need, what better, more compassionate way, and financially sound way, of taking care of those needs than taking care of them in their own homes. We are at a loss as to why you want to reduce home care. If you want to bring down costs across the state in Medicaid, you want to be able to increase home care and keep moms, dads, brothers, sisters, our children ... at home where they have a better quality of life. It's more compassionate, it gives them the quality of life that they deserve, and it’s the right thing to do."
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»Download the press release
For Immediate Release: March 5, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
Record Gathering For HCA's Advocacy Day Urges Restoration of Vital Home Health Care Funding
State's Top Legislative Leaders Scheduled to Address HCA Advocates Rallying Against $100-plus Million in Proposed Home Health Care Budget Cuts
The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) today holds its Advocacy Day at the Capitol where advocates will call upon legislators to overturn an unprecedented $100-plus million in devastating home health care cuts proposed in the 2008-09 Executive State Budget.
"These proposed cuts, the biggest in recent memory, call for a big, coordinated response," said HCA President Joanne Cunningham about today's projected record gathering for HCA's Advocacy Day. Over 150 participants from 52 agencies throughout the state are expected to meet with more than 80 state legislators to voice opposition to these cuts.
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For Immediate Release: February 11, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
Statement by HCA President Joanne Cunningham on Spitzer’s Continued Assault on Home Health Care
Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) President Joanne Cunningham today called the Governor’s 21-day Executive Budget amendments "a further assault on home health care and the vast majority of New Yorkers who depend on it and support greater access to home health care, not less."
"As if the Governor's original cuts didn't pack enough of a blow to home health care, this second swipe undermines efforts, including the Governor’s own, to shift the focus from institutional to community-based care," Cunningham said.
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For Immediate Release: February 6, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
HCA Testifies at Joint Legislative Budget Hearing To Urge Restoration of $100 Million in Proposed Home Health Care Cuts
New HANYS/Siena Research Institute Poll: 76% of New Yorkers Want Increased Funding for home health care
In written testimony offered today to the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) said the $100 million in home health care cuts contained in the 2008-09 Executive State Budget "will undermine the State's progress in health care reform, the stability of our agencies and, most importantly, our ability to provide appropriate patient care."
Today's testimony, presented by Victoria Hines, President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) of Rochester and Monroe County, and First-Vice Chair of HCA's Board of Directors, falls on the heels of a new HANYS/Siena Research Institute poll which found that 76 percent of New Yorkers want increased funding for home health care while only 3 percent support decreased funding, and 18 percent support keeping home health care funding at current levels.
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For Immediate Release: February 5, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
Statement by HCA President Joanne Cunningham on President Bush's Health Care Budget Proposal
HCA President Joanne Cunningham today blasted the Medicare and Medicaid components of President Bush's proposed Fiscal Year 2009 Budget calling it a disaster for home care patients and the providers who serve them.
Most notably, President Bush's budget proposal excludes a Medicare market basket update for home health agencies through the next five years — a rate adjustment home care provider agencies depend upon to counter costly inflationary trends.
Withholding the market basket update amounts to a $440 million home care cut nationwide and a $22 million cut in New York for 2009 alone. That swells to $11.03 billion nationally, and $110 million statewide, for the 2009 to 2013 period.
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For Immediate Release: January 29, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
Browsers Welcome — Home Care Association Unveils Remodeled Website
A New Look, New Features and Enhanced Navigability
The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) today unveiled the latest transformation of the HCA brand: a new and enhanced website at www.hcanys.org.
HCA President Joanne Cunningham said the new site incorporates HCA's new logo and color scheme, unveiled earlier this month, as well as several other practical and visual enhancements.
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For Immediate Release: January 22, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
Joanne Cunningham (518) 810-3538 cell
Home Care Cuts In Governor's Proposed Budget At Odds With Commitment to Patient-Centered Care
Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) calls Executive Budget
proposal — including $82 million in new cuts — devastating to home health care
HCA President Joanne Cunningham today called the cuts contained in the Governor's 2008-09 Executive Budget proposal "a dramatic blow to New York's home care infrastructure."
"We hope that Governor Spitzer — who so strongly supported home and community-based care in his previous budget — will reconsider these cuts, which jeopardize the very system of patient-oriented care he has emphasized since taking office."
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For Immediate Release: January 9, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
Statement From HCA President Joanne Cunningham on Governor Spitzer's State of the State Address
Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) President Joanne Cunningham today said she was encouraged by the health care features of Governor Spitzer's State of the State message, specifically its focus on "the right care at the right price in the right medical setting."
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For Immediate Release: January 9, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
HCA Urges Renewal of Governor Spitzer's Pledge to Home and Community-based Health Care
In anticipation of today's State of the State address by Governor Spitzer, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) has identified several key policy initiatives for renewing the administration's commitment to home and community based health care.
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For Immediate Release: January 7, 2008
Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell
HCA Rings In 30th Anniversary Year With Striking New Logo
New Look, New Logo, Same Commitment to Quality Home Health Care Services
Highlighting its reputation as advocate for New York's mission-driven home care providers, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) today unveiled a new logo and organization colors.
"As HCA celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2008, we recognized that now is a unique opportunity to modernize the Association's look and create a graphic identity that best reflects our position as the New York home care industry's premier policy resource and advocate at the state and federal levels," said HCA President Joanne Cunningham.
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For Immediate Release: August 21, 2007
Contact:
Joanne Cunningham, President (518) 810-3538 cell
Statement from the Home Care Association of New York State Regarding Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's Press Release on Home Care Providers
The Home Care Association of New York State and our members fully support efforts to ensure that our agencies are able to recruit properly trained and certified home care aides, which has been the original and primary focus of the Attorney General's two-year inquiry involving a limited number of training sites in the downstate area. Aides trained at these sites were then employed by agencies throughout the region, which as a consequence were then affected through the subpoena process by this investigation.
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