BAYADA Home Health Care Chief Marketing and Government Affairs Officer David J. Totaro was recently elected chair of the Partnership for Medicaid Home-Based Care 2015-2016 board of directors. The Medicaid Partnership is comprised of leading home care providers and managed care companies from around the country seeking to work with government leaders to promote access to cost-effective, high-quality Medicaid home care services.
“I am excited to join my colleagues throughout the industry in speaking up for those who really need these services,” said Totaro. “We are committed to educating federal policymakers to ensure the protection and strengthening of the Medicaid programs so many people rely on to stay safely in the comfort of home.”
The Medicaid Partnership was formed to address federal policy changes affecting the delivery of Medicaid home-based care. Those services include specialized nursing and personal care assistance such as bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping for those at a high risk for falls or who otherwise would have difficulty caring for themselves.
“Dave is a proven, effective leader with tremendous experience,” said BAYADA Founder and President Mark Baiada. “I am proud to have him at the national level representing our most vulnerable clients and all people in need of these essential services.”
When Totaro joined BAYADA in 2009, the company lacked a formal legislative advocacy program to fight for the rights of home health care professionals and the clients they serve. Under his leadership, the new government affairs office has developed successful grassroots campaigns that resulted in legislation to improve the safety of one-on-one nursing care for medically fragile children at school, increased reimbursement rates for home health care providers, and prevented budget cuts and elimination of much-needed home health care services. Totaro also provides oversight for a comprehensive program to train and educate the company’s more than 20,000 health care and administrative professionals about making a difference through grassroots advocacy.
Prior to joining BAYADA, Totaro served as chief marketing officer at RehabCare Group, Inc., a national physical therapy management company out of St. Louis, Mo.; Caesars Entertainment, the parent company of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas; and Dime Bancorp, a national banking and mortgage company based in New York City.
Founding members of the Medicaid Partnership include AccentCare, Addus HomeCare, All Metro, BAYADA Home Health Care, Caring Associates, Centene, Home Care by Black Stone, Interim HealthCare, Molina Healthcare, ResCare, Sutter Care at Home, The Council for State Home Care Associations, and VNA Health Group.
To learn more about advocacy at BAYADA, visit bayada.com/advocacy.asp.
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