While the majority of the world is focused on the many issues and often questionable antics of the contenders for the highest office in the land, home health care managers are faced with a different set of issues. Unfunded federal and state mandates continue to impact the industry. For the home healthcare providers who managed to survive rate cuts, the shift to managed care, payment delays, shrinking margins and the most recent federal overtime rule, there is now a new challenge.

Home Healthcare Providers Wages and Reimbursement Rates

The Fight for $15 began as a campaign initiated by the SEIU. What began as a walk out by fast food workers in New York City more than three and half years ago has now turned into a massive movement with successes throughout the country. With fast food restaurants such as McDonalds and retailers such as Walmart offering entry level positions with a starting hourly rate of $12-$15, how can the home healthcare industry continue to competitively attract the best, the brightest and the most compassionate to service clients who need assistance with activities of daily living in order to remain in their homes? Unlike restaurants or retail establishments, home healthcare providers do not have an option to raise rates to cover new costs.

Most homecare providers agree that home health care aides deserve to be paid more, that the service that they provide is invaluable. They understand and appreciate the hardships and conditions that homecare employees have to endure. They understand that the job can be emotionally and physically stressful and draining. They understand that it is not uncommon for a home health aide to be forced to work at more than one agency because they need to work between 60-70 hours a week in order to make ends meet.

Most home healthcare providers pay more than the minimum wage because they want to attract good, dependable and compassionate workers and would willingly support an increase in the minimum wage if it is coupled with an increase in reimbursement rates. The majority of home health care clients are covered by Medicaid and Governors across the country, are elected on platforms that include their promise to control Medicaid costs.

In a survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and touted by the SEIU, nearly 60 percent of Americans support a $15 minimum. The Fight for $15 has experienced the most success when the issue has been placed before the voters to decide.

So what can be done?

1. Join your state association.  Associations advocate and lobby on behalf of the industry. The old adage that there is strength in numbers has proven to be true. An association, with strong membership numbers is usually a welcomed and invited guest at the table when decisions are being made.
2. Get involved! Write your local, state and federal legislators and let them know that your employees deserve a living wage but, likewise, you deserve an increase in funding in order to pay a living wage.
3. Be honest with your employees. The SEIU has a tendency to inflate Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates, leading home health aides to believe that agencies are working with a surplus of funds. They need to know the truth.

If the state and the federal government are committed to keeping those in need  in their own homes to receive the much needed services that is provided through home healthcare,  they must equally be committed to funding Medicare and Medicaid at a level that will permit an increase to home health care providers and put an end to unfunded mandates.