When my 62-year-old neighbor finally came home from the hospital, it was not an effort to get back to life. It was supposed to be a prelude to death. Nothing more could be done. With limited home oxygen therapy and pain medication, she and her husband waited for the inevitable.

After extensive chemotherapy for acute leukemia, this once hardy woman had grown weary of the smell of hospitals. When she went home, doctors said she had a 5% to 10% chance of survival. But something amazing happened—she started to get better. Her vital signs strengthened, her blood markers surged back to normal. Eventually, she got out of bed, baked cookies again for my family, and gingerly walked a few feet on the sidewalk in front of her house.

Just last week, she was out working in her modest garden. I asked her simply, “How did you do it?” She described her home of 40 years as a place for living—a place so drastically different from the white halls of the hospital. In short, she drew strength from the mere fact that she was at home. With reliable visits from the oxygen van, she and her doctors determined that this last leg of her recovery could be done more conveniently and more cost-effectively in the home setting.

My neighbor’s body is now rid of cancer. She does get out of breath sometimes, but she no longer requires home oxygen. Would she have died if she stayed in the hospital? I don’t know. I asked her this very question, and she is convinced that she would not have survived in the hospital. If she had died, she added, she wanted it to be at home.

This is a true story and you no doubt recognize the sentiments of patients like my neighbor. In life or death, there is truly no place like home. You may also believe, as I do, that the human spirit gets a lift from home care that actively contributes to healing and happiness.

In the legislative battles ahead that will define home care for years to come, these anecdotes have a place. While some legislators will be immune to such sentiment, no lawmaker can ignore the cost-effectiveness of home care when compared to exorbitant hospital charges.

Recently proposed legislation (from Reps Harold Ford [D-Tenn] and Dave Hobson [R-Ohio]) to repeal Federal Employee Health Benefits Program-related pricing reductions is a positive sign that at least some Congressional members recognize the true value of home care.

If you’re looking to further this message, Dealer/Provider will once again partner with Medtrade organizers to bring “Grassroots Central” to Orlando from October 26-28. Grassroots Central will be a dedicated area on the show floor where attendees can learn about proposed legislation and find easy ways to get involved in grassroots lobbying, at both the state and national level. State associations from across the country and major manufacturers are again scheduled to participate. In the charged environment of an election year, Grassroots Central will feature lectures from prominent individuals and provocative panel discussions. Look for more specifics in our September issue.
While these legislative efforts may indeed work, the old Boy Scout motto (be prepared) still applies. In a climate in which reimbursements rarely go up, new approaches to old strategies still apply. For example, reducing your tax burden is always desireable. Check out “Best Tax Benefits for You and Your Business” (page 22) for ways to keep more of what you earn.

In the final analysis, succeeding in a difficult environment depends on getting information and using it wisely. Ultimately, a little creativity, knowledge, and faith in home care can go a long way indeed. Just ask my neighbor.

Greg Thompson
gthompson@medpubs.com