From left: BAYADA CNA Teressa Jones, Renee O’Neal, Cynthia Ball, and BAYADA Clinical Manager Estella Chisholm

Cynthia Ball, who is running for North Carolina’s House District 49, recently visited the home of Renee O’Neal in Raleigh to witness, firsthand, how the state’s Medicaid Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults (CAP-DA) helps North Carolina’s most vulnerable residents remain safe at home.

BAYADA client Kathy Pollock depends on care from her beloved home health aide Lucy Villalona, left, whose services are reimbursed by Medicaid – Photo: Joe Lamberti, Courier-Post

Kim Mulford, staff writer for South Jersey’s Courier-Post, reports on the dire need for increased Medicaid funding of home care services affecting recipients of all income levels and their home health aides.

“The problem is, New Jersey hasn't allocated enough money to support its Medicaid program," said BAYADA Home Health Care Chief Government Affairs Officer David Totaro.

Read more at http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/health/2016/03/17/home-health-care-minimum-wage-low-pay/81279586/.

Register with BAYADA Hearts for Home Care to speak up for better reimbursement rates at https://www.bayada.com/heartsforhomecare/landing/.

Totaro emceeing the BAYADA Home Health Care Champion Awards on Dec. 1

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.

Eric LeGrand, a former Rutgers University football star and BAYADA client who lives with quadriplegia from a spinal cord injury experienced during a 2010 game, served as the keynote speaker during the third annual BAYADA Home Health Care Champion Awards. The event paid tribute to Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto of the 32nd Legislative District, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle of the 37th Legislative District, and Jean Alan Bestafka, past president and CEO of the Home Health Services Association (HHSA), for their outstanding dedication to home health care advocacy.

Winston-Salem resident Tom Mylet with BAYADA colleagues Dave Totaro, chief government affairs officer, and Lee Dobson, N.C. government affairs director, after receiving the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine award at his retirement celebration on Saturday, September 27.

Winston-Salem resident Tom Mylet on Saturday received the most prestigious award conferred by the governor of North Carolina to a civilian, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

“It’s a real surprise and a very proud moment,” said Mylet. “Advocating for people in need and helping keep them safe at home has been a calling, and I’m so thankful to have made a career out of it.”

Pennsylvania home care providers and clients visit lawmakers to garner support

More than 170 BAYADA Home Health Care employees— joined with advocates from the Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA), other home care providers, and clients—swarmed the state capitol on Tuesday, April 21, helping to spread the message to legislators that home care is the most affordable and preferred delivery of health services. Organized by PHA, the industry’s lobby day sought to educate and garner support from lawmakers on three key home care issues.

Shelby, N.C., BAYADA staff with $500 winner and colleague Nicole Kirksey, LPN (third from left)

A fourth $500 prize and 2014 Ford Focus grand prize remain in The BAYADA Drive it Home Contest

Rutherfordton, N.C., resident Nicole Kirksey was recently named the third of four quarterly $500 winners in the BAYADA Drive it Home Contest, a yearlong nursing career referral campaign to recruit high-quality home care nurses throughout Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. A grand-prize 2014 Ford Focus will go to a randomly selected entrant in January.

The BAYADA Gastonia staff with contest-winner and colleague Rene Hallstead (far right)

Lowell, N.C., resident Rene Hallstead was recently named the first of four $500 winners in the BAYADA Drive it Home Contest, a yearlong referral-based campaign to recruit high-quality nurses throughout Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

More than 170 BAYADA Home Health Care employees and clients visited the capitol Tuesday to advocate for medically fragile Pennsylvanians.

The seventh annual BAYADA Day in Harrisburg on Tuesday, April 8, was attended by more than 170 BAYADA Home Health Care employees and clients from across Pennsylvania. The celebration included a press event on the steps of the capitol rotunda with the presentation of the first annual BAYADA Home Health Care Champion awards for Pennsylvania to Senator Patricia Vance, Representative Marguerite Quinn, and Secretary of Aging Brian Duke. This new award recognizes state legislators and regulators who have worked diligently to advocate for increased funding and support for home health care services in the Commonwealth.

BAYADA delegates and supporters gathered on the Main Capitol Rotunda steps in Harrisburg in 2013

Who:      Senator Patricia Vance, Representative Marguerite Quinn, and Secretary of Aging Brian Duke

What:     Will receive the BAYADA Home Health Care Champion Awards at the seventh annual BAYADA Day

When:    Tuesday, April 8, 11:30 am

Where:   Main Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg, Pa.

Why:      The first annual BAYADA Home Health Care Champion Awards were established to recognize those government officials who have consistently supported our mission.

The awards ceremony will be held as a part of the seventh annual BAYADA Day.

The health care system in Pennsylvania is strained. Home health care provides a consumer-focused, cost-effective solution to unsustainable hospitalization and long-term care costs. BAYADA Day is a way to share our concerns and solutions with decision makers in Harrisburg.

Specifically, we will be advocating to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for these three issues:

• Home nursing care for medically fragile children
  
  
• The Office of Long Term Living home and community-based services waiver rates for personal care assistance and nursing services
  
  
• Home health nursing and therapy services