Advocating for Fair and Equitable Payment for the Medicare Home Health Program with Joanne Cunningham

When it comes to home healthcare, payment policy is a bedrock issue that we need to pay attention to if we want to avoid negative consequences for Medicare beneficiaries and the home health sector at large. This is according to Joanne Cunningham, a well-respected figure in the area of home health policy and the CEO of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare. Before her current role, Joanne served as CEO of the Homecare Association of New York, where she led advocacy and policy efforts on behalf of over 400 providers within the State of New York. Throughout the pandemic, Joanne has also been an outspoken advocate for providing home health agencies with the flexibility they need to use telehealth technology to navigate COVID-19, and she is a creative and forward-looking leader when it comes to advancing a broader and more holistic view of what home health is capable of. In today’s episode, we discuss the 2023 Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System, the impact of midterm elections, why Joanne believes we need to see fair and equitable reimbursement for the Medicare Home Health Program, and more.

Key Points From This Episode:

• A look at Joanne’s career trajectory and what led her to home healthcare.
• Perceptions of the value of home healthcare on Capitol Hill.
• Key takeaways from the 2023 Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System.
• The labor at the center of home health and why fair and equitable payment is crucial.
• Core motivations behind the policies that seek to cut home health payments.
• Negative consequences of cutting home health reimbursement.
• How the midterm elections could impact the Medicare Home Health Program.
• Why home health is more cost-efficient than institutional care.
• Joanne shares her vision for the future of home healthcare.
• Her take on Medicare Advantage and the policy questions that arise.
• Assessing different models of how healthcare is paid for.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Joanne Cunningham on LinkedIn

Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare

VNA Health Group Job Opportunities

Email Talent Acquisition at VNA Health Group