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Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc.

& Foundation for Home Health, Inc.

www.thinkhomecare.org

2018 Annual Report

MASSACHUSETTSHOME CARE ALLIANCEof

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“Connecting and educating people and organizations to advance the health of people and communities through access to quality care and services in the home.”

– Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts MissionStatement

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June, 2018

To the Members:

How do you keep current on the changes that constantly challenge the home care industry?

Where do you obtain educational and other support services to raise the level of your staff performance?

How and where can you stand with others in home care, behind a unified message, that our expertise is the solution to so much of what our health system is grappling with today?

As the largest home care association in New England, with more than 180 certified home health and private home care members, HCA of MA stood this year as your response to the above three questions. We have been an active voice with state and federal lawmaking bodies, regulatory agencies, and others to interpret, challenge, or support policy and regulations that affect our industry. At the same time, we continued to promote the message that our members provide evidence-based, cost-effective, high quality services when patients need them, where they prefer them: in their own homes.

In embracing the notion that we are an association “of the members, by the members and for the members,” we were able to tap into the industry’s “collective wisdom” on our listservs and in our conferences to drive us all to be better, more effective in our work. When it was clear – even in this age of immediate electronic access to information on any subject – that no amount of “googling” could offer a plan for compliance with the new Medicare Conditions of Participation, we built one with your help.

As we look back at 2017/18 and forward to 2019, we have been fortunate to have a Board of Directors who lead by example and have held HCA to a high standard of excellence. We have a staff that – in our most recent membership survey – was recognized for their knowledge, their enthusiasm, and (above all) their commitment to the HCA and its membership.

AnnuAl MessAge

Patricia Kelleher Executive Director

Holly Chaffee Alliance President

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The Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc. is a statewide association of home care agencies and their allies, dedicated to promoting home care as an integral part of the health care system. Founded in 1969, the Alliance is the definitive voice for home care in the Commonwealth and represents more than 180 agency providers from every corner of the state. It builds public awareness of home care, helping the public understand the scope of its services and make wise health choices.

The Alliance works with government officials, legislators, and other advocacy organizations on legislative and policy initiatives. Some issues affect the entire home care industry, while others are more narrowly focused on specific matters. The Alliance gives voice to members’ concerns by developing and commenting on proposed legislation, the budget process, and health care reform initiatives. Additionally, it hosts and attends advocacy events across the state and in Washington, DC, and sits on policy-making committees to raise the profile of the entire industry.

Another of the Alliance’s primary functions is to help its members refine and improve their service to their clients. For instance, in 2010, the Alliance created an accreditation program – at that time, the only one of its kind in the nation – for its private pay members in order to establish standards and provide a set of best practices. More than sixty agencies are currently accredited.

Also in this vein, the Alliance holds an annual awards ceremony to recognize excellence and innovation within the industry. It fosters communication and sharing among its members by keeping them informed of regulatory and market changes through our professional interest groups, e-mail exchanges, e-newsletters, and publications.

Through its educational subsidiary, the Foundation for Home Health, Inc, the Alliance also supports its members’ efforts to improve their clinical excellence by offering workshops, teleconferences, and other educational events throughout the year. The Foundation also collaborates with the five other home care associations in the region to organize the New England Home Care Conference & Trade Show, the largest annual home care conference in the region.

In addition to these services, the Alliance also publishes directories of its members to help referral sources make informed decisions about home health, provides its members with group purchase programs, and hosts the New England Home Health Career Center website.

About the AlliAnce

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Tim Burgers

Associate Director

Colleen Bayard

Director of Regulatory & Clinical Affairs

Tom Meyer

Membership & Information Services Coordinator

Jon Ezrin

Accountant

Holly Chaffee, VNA Care – President

Maureen Bannan, Hebrew SeniorLife Home Care – Vice President

Kathleen McDonough, Community Health Network – Secretary

Shawn Potter, All Care VNA and Hospice – Treasurer

Wayne Regan, Simione Consultants – Immediate Past President

Tim Ashe, Fazzi Associates

Bruce Bender, Home Instead Senior Care Hearthside

Bill Connors, Greater Medford VNA

Deb Costello, Lahey Health Care at Home

Ed Devaney, VNANE

Brandon Howes, Comfort Home Care

Renee McInnes, NVNA and Hospice

Maura McQueeney, Independent Consultant

Lisa Parent, Community Nurse Home Care

Jim Reynolds, Connected Home Care

Tammie Ryan, South Shore VNA

Joan Usher, JLU Health Records Systems

boArd of directors & stAff

Megan Fournier Meetings & Education Coordinator

Jake Krilovich

Director of Legislative & Public Affairs

Michelle Burton

Administrative & Member Services Assistant

Patricia Kelleher

Executive Director

YeAr in nuMbers

HCA of MA Agency Members in 2017/18

Agency Type No. Total Revenue Avg. Revenue Median Revenue

Medicare Certified 94 $1,253,000,000 $13,300,000 $5,500,000

Non-Certified 89 $226,300,000 $2,500,000 $1,200,000

TOTAL 183 $1,479,300,000 $8,100,000 $1,600,000

HCA of MA Online & Social Media in 2017/18@Thinkhomecare twitter followers: 3,016 (up 250+ since 2017)

Total twitter “impressions:” 160,000

Emails to legislators 2,300 via website:

Members on HCA committees 900 /list servs (some duplicates):

Exhibitors at annual NE Home 75 Care Conference & Trade Show:

Agencies accredited by HCA: 59

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HCA will act to mobilize our collective energies and give voice to our shared stories in ways that successfully influence programs and policies.

Being a voice for the industry with local and national policy makers continues as a high member priority. Legislative and regulatory advocacy highlights included:

• Influencing clarifications and changes to the MAC’s Probe and Educate Policies

• Working with providers and families in the Continuous Skilled Nursing program to obtain approximately $13 million in rate increases

• Bringing multiple agencies to the state Executive Office of Elder Affairs listening session on the home care aide registry

• Generating many member calls on the problems related to the EMAC Supplemental Assessment on employees using MassHealth, and crafting a Senate budget amendment on same

• Advocating for members on problems associated with MassHealth Prior Approval, and obtaining an important, clarifying memo related to the authorizations for home health through the new ACO program

HCA will bring people together for positive change.

The Alliance community and networking committees and interest groups continue to be strong, as does HCA’s visibility. Some highlights in these areas included:

• Developing a COP Implementation manual, distributed to all certified members, as well an Emergency Planning guide for home care. Both of these were sold nationally as industry standards.

• Distributing more than 2,000 Resource Guides and 5,000 Private Care Directories as well as “Four Reasons to Work with a Private Care Agency” to key referral sources, including at conferences for councils on aging, assisted living facilities, and case managers

YeAr in review

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• Providing extensive networking opportunities for members through real and virtual committees, including monthly Quality Improvement Committee and monthly Clinical Directors Meetings, and the quarterly Private Care Advisory Committee

• Assisting members individually, and in collective meetings, to respond to new MassHealth regulatory challenges such as the Medical Necessity Guidelines, the new medication administration visit rate, the transition to managed care and prior authorization

• Distributing a new “Choose Accredited Home Care” marketing brochure to raise public awareness of our accreditation program

HCA and its Foundation for Home Health will offer learning opportunities that engage participants and advance the success of our members.

With an average of more than three education sessions each month, the Alliance’s subsidiary corporation, the Foundation for Home Health once again demonstrated why it has remained – despite significant intra-industry competition – the most trusted source for local home care agency information and training needs. Among the highlights of the past year’s educational achievements:

• Offering free education sessions for members on COPs, Medicare’s “Targeted Probe & Educate” review, cost report compliance, workforce issues related to immigration policy, and the Home Health 2018 Payment Rule

• Hosting annual events on Private Pay Home Care, Human Resource Challenges in Home Care, and Regulatory Compliance

• Bringing in nationally-renowned speakers on health care industry trends and leadership, including presentations by Melanie Stover, from HomeCareSales, and Nancy Frates on ALS

• Creating a new CEO Leadership Circle with professional coaching

YeAr in review

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fY 2017 finAnciAls

Support & Revenue

Membership Dues $1,001,174Workshops & Seminars $462,191Publications & Other $53,257TOTAL $1,516,622

Operating Expenses

Salaries & Benefits $809,255Conferences & Meetings

$269,505

Occupancy $116,215Consulting & Prof. Fees $65,571Equipm. & Operation $67,217Travel $55,496Printing & PR $14,564Dues & Subscriptions $13,485All Other Expenses $12,407TOTAL $1,423,715

Non-Operating Activities

Contributions $300Investment Return $160,609TOTAL $160,909

Total Assets $1,269,762Total Liabilities $292,980Total Net Assets $1,269,762Beginning Net Assets

$1,015,946

Change in Assets $253,816

Assets & Liabilities

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stAr AwArd winners

AIDE OF THE YEAR:

Rachel Oscar ConstantHome Health AideNew Outlook Homecare

AIDE OF THE YEAR:

Pam RipleyHome Health Aide/ CNAPorchlight Home Care

CLINICIAN OF THE YEAR:

Lois NeversRN, WCC, OMSCommunity VNA

CLINICIAN OF THE YEAR:

Jennifer WatermanMPT, GCSHebrew SeniorLife Home Care

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stAr AwArd winners

MANAGER OF THE YEAR:

Kelley MacDonaldNursing ManagerHome Health VNA

PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR:

Steven Strongwater, MD President & CEOAtrius Health

HOME CARE CHAMPION:

Kathleen M. Trier CEO & Executive DirectorCommunity VNA

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innovAtion AwArd winners

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to COPD Management

Home Health VNA

Building on previous efforts in COPD management, Home Health VNA imple-mented a collaborative, multi-dimensional team approach to managing COPD using the most up to date research on disease management. The program invests heavily in comprehensive staff education and clinical capacity building, as well as evidence based teach back strategies to build patient confidence and motivation.

Patients can access a COPD education website with educational videos and materi-als and are connected both to a telephonic coach and through telehealth equip-ment. Individual patient journals help them track progress against goals. The Initial project goal of a 20% reduction in all cause 60-day admissions of patients admitted to home health with a primary diagnosis of COPD was exceeded in each program quarter with an overall 24% reduction in the 60-day hospital rate since program inception and a more than $4,000,000 estimated savings in avoided hospitalizations.

The work was funded by a grant from the Cardinal Health Foundation.

Pet Peace of Mind PartnershipNashoba Nursing Service & Hospice

As some families deal with grief and loss surrounding a family member’s illness, the patient’s beloved pet may be overlooked or treated as an afterthought. Nasho-ba Nursing Service and Hospice has partnered with Pets Peace of Mind with the intention of helping their terminally ill patients keep their pets at their side for the entire hospice journey.

Volunteers are trained specifically to provide dog walking, canine and feline clean-up, re-stocking of pet food, arranging boarding when the patient must spend time in the hospital, and helping find new homes for pets after the patient’s death.

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innovAtion AwArd winners

New Nursing Graduates in Home CareSouth Shore VNA

Going against the traditional practice of new graduates needing acute care experi-ence before entering into community health, SSVNA has worked with several area nursing schools to identify nursing students with strong clinical skills, confidence, and an interest in community health.

First and second semester seniors work with a preceptor on a home health clinical rotation and by second semester are working directly with patients and families. Those who excel are brought on as professional nurses with opportunity to spend time both in the certain departments of the affiliated hospital, as well as with the different clinical specialties at the agency, such as cardiac nurses, COPD specialists and hospice. The success rate in recruiting and retaining these new graduates has remained consistently high.

Smart Technology to Transform Wound CarePartners HealthCare at Home

In order to drive efficiency and efficacy in the care of wound care patients, Part-ners HealthCare at Home has moved to a smart phone technology platform for in-home wound imagery and transmission to an office based Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse (WOCN). Images are uploaded through an iphone application Haiku to a central electronic health record allowing better communication across physician, wound specialist and treating nurses. Since its inception the WOCNs have made over 2,300 consults resulting in 1,070 treatment changes.

The patient experience has been positive and the collaboration between disciplines has improved.

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24 Hours CareAbbott Home Health Care, Inc.ABC Home Healthcare ProfessionalsAberdeen Home Care, Inc.Able Home Care, LLCAccess Homecare Services, Inc.Acclaim Home Health CareAce Medical Services, IncActive Home CareActon Public Health Nursing ServiceAdvantage Home Health Care ServicesAll At Home Health CareAll Care VNA & HospiceAlliance Hospice Care, LLCAlphaCare Home Health AgencyAlternative Home Health Care, LLCAlways Best Care Senior ServicesAlways Here Home Care, Inc.Amada Senior Care - Boston MetroWest SuburbanAmigos HomecareApex Healthcare Services, Inc.At Home Elder Care Inc.At Home Senior Care, Inc.Avenue Homecare Services, Inc.BAYADA Home Health CareBaystate Home HealthBerkshire VNA/Berkshire Medical CenterBest Home Care N’ More Inc.Blissful Homecare LLCBlue Hills Therapeutics, Inc.

Brockton Visiting Nurse AssociationBrookdale Home HealthBrooksby Visiting Nurse ServiceCahoon Care Associates LLCCapuano HomeHealth Care, Inc.Care From The Heart, LLCCare Givers of Massachusetts, LLCCareGroup Parmenter HC & HospiceCaretendersCarol Seager AssociatesChelsea Jewish Visiting Nurse AgencyCircle Home, Inc.Collective Home Care Inc.Colony Care At Home, Inc.Comfort Home Care LLCComfort Keepers of North ReadingComfort Keepers of South Shore & Cape CodComforting Hands LLCCommonwealth Caregivers, Inc.Commonwealth Clinical Services, Inc.Commonwealth Registry of Nurses, Inc.Community Health Network, Inc.Community Nurse Home Care, Inc.Community VNA, Inc.Compassionate HealthCare SystemsComprehensive Home CareConnected Home Care, LLCConstellation Health ServicesCooley Dickinson VNA & HospiceCornerstone Healthcare Systems

MeMbership

Agencies

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CS&R Quality Homecare LLCDeaconess Abundant Life ServicesDiversity Healthcare Connections, LLCElder AchieversElderwood Home CareEmerson Hospital Home CareEPIC Health Services, Inc.Every Step Home Care Inc.Excel HomeCare ServicesExtended Family of WaylandEzra Home Care, LLCFamily Care ExtendedFirmin Multi Service Agent LLCGlenmeadow at HomeGlobal Home Care Services LLCGolden Heart Home Healthcare, LLCGravitas Home Care ServicesGreater Medford Visiting Nurse & Community HealthGuardian Angel Senior Services, Inc.Guardian Healthcare, LLCGuardian Home Health CareGuided Living Senior Home CareGVNA Healthcare, Inc.Habilitation Assistance Corp.Hallmark Health VNA & Hospice, Inc.Happier in My Home, Inc.Hebrew SeniorLife Home CareHolyoke Visiting Nurse AssociationHome Care AssistanceHome Health VNA, Inc.Home Instead Senior Care Hearthside

Home Instead Senior Care of Berk. Cnty.Home Instead Senior Care of Boston N.Home Instead Senior Care of Cape CodHome Instead Senior Care of Downtown Boston and CambridgeHome Instead Senior Care of LexingtonHome Instead Senior Care of N. AndoverHome Instead Senior Care of Northern Bristol CountyHome Instead Senior Care of NorwellHome Instead Senior Care of NorwoodHome Instead Senior Care of SpringfieldHome Instead Senior Care of the S. ShoreHome Instead Senior Care of WalthamHome Resources, Inc.HomeCare HandsHouseWorks, LLCHumana At Home / SeniorBridgeICK Assurance Home Health Care Inc.Integra Home Health AgencyIntegrity Home Care Solutions, LLCInternational Health SolutionsJHC HomeCare & HospiceJudy’s Caregiving Solutions LLCKeystone Homecare LLCKind Hands Care at Home LLCLahey Health at HomeLove My Care Home Health ServicesMaestro-Connections Health SystemsMasterPeace, Inc.MavencareMaxim Healthcare Services

MeMbership

Agencies, cont.

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Medical Resources Home Health Corp.Mercy Home CareMetropolitan Home Care, Inc.Metropolitan Home Health Services, Inc.Minute Women Home CareMulticultural Community ServicesMulticultural Home Care, Inc.Nashoba Nursing Service & HospiceNeighborhood Home CareNew England Home Health CareNew England Home Health Services, Inc.New Outlook Homecare, LLCNizhoni HealthNorth Hill Home Health CareNortheast Clinical Services, Inc.NVNA and HospiceO’Connell Care at HomeOpen Door Healthcare AgencyOptimal Home Care, LLCOverlook Care Private Duty Home CareOverlook Visiting Nurse Association, Inc.Partners HealthCare at HomePatient Care Solutions LLCPetra Health Care, LLCPorchlight VNAPrestige Health Care Services, IncPrime Home Health and Companion CareProfessional Nurse & HC of Cape CodPSA HealthcareRight at Home of E. Worcester CountyRoyale Care, Inc.

RSSI Home CareSalmon VNA & HospiceSeraphic Springs HealthcareSouth Shore Visiting Nurse AssociationSouthcoast Visiting Nurse AssociationSpectrum Home Health & Hospice CareSteward Home CareStoughton Public Health & VNASuburban Home Health Care, Inc.T.L. Connections, Inc.Traditions Home Health Services, LLCTribute Home CareUpham’s Home Health CareVisiting Angels of ActonVisiting Angels of Cape CodVisiting Angels of ChelmsfordVisiting Angels of DanversVisiting Angels of Newton and CantonVisiting Angels of North AttleboroVisiting Angels of North ReadingVisiting Angels of West SpringfieldVisiting Angels of WorcesterVisiting Nurse Home & HospiceVisiting Rehab and Nursing ServicesVitra Health, Inc.VNA CareVNA of Cape Cod, Inc.VNA of Eastern MassachusettsVNA of Southern Worcester County, Inc.Walpole Area VNAWhittier Home Health Care Agency

MeMbership

Agencies, cont.

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MeMbership

Accreditation Commission for Health CareAdvanced Billing Technology LLCAnsaphone ServiceAtiis LLCAtlantic Charter Insurance Co.Automatic Laundry Services CompanyAxxessBDO USA, LLPBe Safer At Home, A Connect America CompanyBerryDunnBlackTree Healthcare ConsultingByram Healthcare Centers, Inc.Caregiver Homes of MassachusettsCasambaCertified Homecare ConsultingCitrin Cooperman & Co., LLPCliftonLarsonAllen, LLPClinLogica, Inc.Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP)CorridorEnterprise Fleet ManagementFazzi Associates, Inc.Fire Equipment Inc.Fred C. Church, Inc.Hanover Insurance GroupHarvard Pilgrim Health CareHealth and Home Care Training CenterHEALTHCAREfirst, Inc.

HHAeXchangeHome Care Aide CouncilHome Care Association of AmericaHome Healthcare Solutions, A Cardinal Health CompanyHomecare GPSHomecare HomebaseHospice & Palliative Care Federation of MassachusettsIntelaTrakKinnser SoftwareKrokidas & Bluestein LLPMarcum LLPMass ALAMassPayMcBee Associates, Inc.Medical Recruitment Specialists, LLCMedline Industries, Inc,MedTalk Training and Interpreter ServicesMerrimack Valley Insurance Agency Inc.MHA SolutionsMurphy, Hesse, Toomey, & Lehane, LLPNaylor LLCNE QIN-QIO / Healthcentric AdvisorsPerryville Marketing Associates, LLCPhiladelphia InsuranceQualidigmQuality In Real TimeRBC Limited

Allieds

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MeMbership

Individuals

Jo Anne AraminiLawrence Baker (Baker Home Care Financial Consulting, LLC)Karen Carney (Lifesprk LLC)Richard Chesney (Healthcare Market Resources)Richard Corcoran (Corcoran Consulting Group, LLC)Tracy DalyMeg DohertyValerie Donnelly (Donnelly & Associates)Kathy Duckett (K. Duckett Consulting)Daniel Edobor-OvaborJames Fuccione (MA Healthy Aging Collaborative)Kate Horne

Rachel McGourthyMaura McQueeneyFaboula NabePatricia O’BrienRuth Odgren (Odgren Management Services LLC)Cheryl Pacella (CAP Consulting, LLC)Darlene Regan (Health-Benefits Resource Counselors)Colette SilvermanCharles Targowski (CAST Home Health Care Financial Consulting LLC)Peter Tiernan (HCBS Solutions)Joan Usher (JLU Health Records Systems)Rod Weaver (Always Best Care Senior Services)

MeMbership

Allied, cont.Sallop Insurance Inc.Simione Healthcare ConsultantsSprintUnemployment Services CorporationVerrill Dana LLP

Visiting Nurse Associations of New EnglandWound Care Education InstituteZurickDavis Executive Healthcare Searches

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HOME CARE ALLIANCEM A S S A C H U S E T T Sof

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© 2017 Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc. 75 Kneeland St., Ste. 709, Boston, MA 02111

Ph: (617) 482-8830 • Fx: (617) 426-0509