At the recent Home Care Innovation Forum, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), one of Congress's most ardent supporters of home health care, addressed the industry's pressing challenges and her vision for the future.
In a candid conversation with Bill Dombi, outgoing President and CEO of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, the longtime advocate for care in the home reflected on her career, the industry's current state, and its future as she prepares to retire from the Senate in January.
Stabenow's connection to home health care runs deep. From her early days as a state representative to her current role in the U.S. Senate, where she’s held her seat since 2001, she has consistently and passionately fought for the industry. Her drive stems from personal experience; her mother, a former director of nursing at a small hospital in northern Michigan, instilled in her a profound respect for healthcare and the professionals who administer it.
This background has fueled her tireless advocacy for home health care, culminating in her recent induction into the Michigan Home Care Hall of Fame.
Speaking to Stabenow, Dombi - himself retiring later this year - said: "If I have any influence on this, there's always a home for you in home care. You've done such great work."
Stabenow didn't mince words about the ongoing struggles faced by the home health industry, particularly funding cuts. "I cannot believe it, it's like Groundhog Day over and over again that we keep seeing home health cuts," she said, expressing frustration at the recurring battle against reimbursement reductions.
She emphasized the critical need for stability in payments to ensure quality care, highlighting her current efforts, including a bipartisan proposal aimed at addressing the cuts to provide more certainty for providers.
"People wanted home health before, and now they really want it," Stabenow said, underlining the growing demand for these services, especially among Baby Boomers, who overwhelmingly desire to age in place. She questioned the logic of reducing funding for home health care while simultaneously trying to expand access to these services.
Stabenow also addressed ongoing workforce challenges. She acknowledged the difficulty in recruiting and retaining quality staff, especially given the competitive job market and the demanding nature of in-home care work. She stressed the need for comprehensive strategies to address these workforce issues, including better pay, improved training opportunities, and pathways for career advancement.
Recognizing the excessive paperwork and administrative tasks that can detract from direct patient care, Stabenow called for a careful review of current regulations and streamlining processes without compromising quality or accountability. She suggested that leveraging technology will be crucial in reducing these administrative burdens, allowing caregivers to focus more on direct patient care.
A key message Stabenow delivered at HCIF was the importance of effective communication with lawmakers. She urged providers to share their stories to put a face on the services and value they provide.
Stabenow stressed that personal narratives from providers and the families they serve can be incredibly powerful in shaping policy. She emphasized the need to go beyond statistics and financial data, encouraging providers to showcase the human impact of their work.
She suggested that home health care providers should be proactive in their storytelling efforts she said, underscoring the authenticity and credibility of first-hand experiences. She recommended reaching out to both state legislators and members of Congress, emphasizing that these personal stories can significantly influence their understanding and decision-making processes.
“Trust me, things don’t get done in Washington unless you ask for it,” she said.
Stabenow expressed optimism about the growing openness to healthcare innovation in Congress, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted increased bipartisan support for investments in high-speed internet infrastructure, which has implications for telehealth and other home-based care technologies, especially in underserved and rural areas.
She said home health providers need to engage boldly and broadly with various Senate committees working on technology and innovation, not just those specifically focused on health care, while emphasizing the importance of demonstrating the technological aspects of home health care to lawmakers, suggesting "show and tell" approaches to illustrate the industry's capabilities.
Stabenow encouraged leaders to think creatively about how emerging technologies could be applied in home health settings. From remote patient monitoring devices to AI-assisted care planning, she sees vast potential for innovation to enhance the quality and efficiency of home-based care.
However, she also cautioned that with innovation comes the need for careful consideration of issues such as data privacy and security issues. She urged attendees to proactively address these concerns, seeing them not as obstacles but as opportunities to demonstrate leadership and build trust with both policymakers and the public.
Looking ahead, Stabenow painted an optimistic picture for the industry. "I think home care is at the heart of the future of providing health care," she said. She emphasized the growing importance of home-based care in light of an aging population and technological advancements.
However, the senator also stressed the need for continued advocacy to ensure proper reimbursement, staffing support, and technological integration to realize this potential fully.
Stabenow's reflections offered encouragement and a call to action for home health care leaders. As she steps away from her formal role in the Senate, her message is clear: the future of home health care is bright, but it’s going to require continued advocacy, innovation, and storytelling to ensure its vital role in the healthcare landscape is fully recognized and supported.
Reading the tea leaves of her talk at HCIF, even though she’s set to vacate her Senate seat, Stabenow will still be involved in an industry she’s been passionate about for decades.