Dispatches From the Field takes you behind the scenes of HCAF’s travels throughout Florida. Our team is meeting with valued members to discuss their concerns, share ideas, and talk about the state of the industry. This ongoing series will provide insights from our travels, highlighting key discussions, lessons learned, and accomplishments from each trip.

Want to connect with us? Provider members can submit the online form to request an in-person visit, and Associate members can click here to request a virtual meeting. Stay tuned for updates from our journey as we continue building a stronger home care community together!

Wednesday, August 7 – Fort Myers

We hosted a member lunch in Fort Myers with representatives from CLA, The Roads Home Health, Lee Health Home Health, Heart Body and Mind Home Care, Shell Point Home Care, and Interim Healthcare of Fort Myers. During the lunch, we discussed a range of industry issues, including high market competition and the challenges new providers face in gaining a foothold. Medicare providers expressed difficulties finding clinicians with the specialized skills needed for home health, such as case management and interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, Medicare Advantage and third-party administrators’ capped visit authorizations make it difficult to provide sufficient care for patients. Private Duty providers highlighted the lack of benchmarking tools like star ratings, while private pay providers voiced concerns over income statements, legal compliance, business development, employment law, operational challenges, sales processes, and financial management. After lunch, we headed to Cape Coral for drop-ins at two member agencies and one prospective member, followed by a scheduled visit with Heart Body and Mind Home Care.

Thursday, August 8 – Venice and Sarasota

In Venice and Sarasota, we conducted drop-in visits with local providers and met with 21st Century Healthcare Consultants CEO Thomas Rose and Vice President of Clinical Services Tina Robertson to discuss potential collaboration on meeting the needs of Certified and Private Duty providers across Florida. The meeting provided an opportunity to explore ways to strengthen support for these providers in the state.

Friday, August 9 – PAC Fundraiser in St. Petersburg 

On August 9, we attended a fundraiser on behalf of the Home Care Political Action Committee (PAC) for Senator Ed Hooper (R-Clearwater) during the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles game in St. Petersburg. This event provided a valuable opportunity to support a key advocate for home care issues while connecting with other influential stakeholders, including Representative Kim Berfield (R-Clearwater) and representatives from Continental Strategy, HCAF’s contract lobbying firm. Senator Hooper is poised to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee in 2025, which plays a crucial role in shaping the state budget. In the House, Representative Berfield serves as Vice Chair of the Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee, which oversees regulatory matters for home health agencies and other health care providers. The evening underscored the importance of fostering strong relationships with lawmakers who understand the complexities of our industry. While the Rays fell 4-1, the night was a success in advancing HCAF’s advocacy efforts.

Wednesday, August 14 – WTSP Interview in St. Petersburg

In St. Petersburg, Executive Director Denise Bellville participated in an interview with investigative reporter Emerald Morrow of WTSP, Tampa Bay’s CBS affiliate. The interview was part of a multi-part series highlighting concerns about Care.com’s vetting process, sparked by a case in which a local woman lost thousands of dollars due to inadequate background checks (click here to watch the first part of the series). Denise emphasized the critical role that licensed home health agencies play in safeguarding clients, as they are subject to rigorous background screening protocols. This story serves as a powerful reminder of the need for transparency and thorough vetting in the care industry, reinforcing the value and trustworthiness of licensed home health care providers. Stay tuned for the full interview.

Tuesday, August 27 – Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, and Stuart

Our day began in Vero Beach, where we had the opportunity to observe the Hospital at Home program in action with the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast. This innovative program, managed by Medically Home, allows patients who need acute care to receive treatment in their homes rather than in a hospital. It’s an incredible solution for enhancing patient comfort while reducing hospital admissions, and we were impressed by the seamless coordination of care provided in this setting. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers approved Medicaid reimbursement for the program.

Afterward, we made our way to Port St. Lucie, where we conducted drop-ins at two of our member agencies. These informal visits provided valuable face-to-face time to hear firsthand about current operational challenges and successes. Our last stop took us to Stuart, where we met with the leadership team at Evergreen Private Care. Over lunch, we discussed key public policy issues, including the evolving role of nurse registries, compliance with new regulations, and potential policy proposals for the 2025 Florida Legislative Session. The conversation highlighted the need for continued advocacy to support providers facing regulatory pressures.

Wednesday, September 4 – Spotlight Family Caregiving Forum in Tampa

Hosted by the Tampa Bay Times and presented by AARP, this forum in Tampa brought together key voices in the caregiving community, including U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-Tampa) and leaders from AARP Florida, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Florida Blue. The forum focused on the challenges faced by family caregivers, with in-depth discussions on the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model and federal initiatives aimed at providing more robust support for caregivers. Legislation and tax credits were discussed as potential solutions to alleviate the financial and emotional strain on caregivers. This event was a prime example of how the home care industry can intersect with broader caregiving issues and the policies designed to support families.

• Travel Time: 17 hours 8 minutes
• Travel Miles: 804 miles

Coming Up

We’ll continue our travels in Region 9 with multiple drop-ins scheduled for Monday, October 7. Keep an eye out for our next dispatch to see what we learn and accomplish. If you’d like to meet with us during our visits, be sure to submit a request for an in-person or virtual meeting!

• Home Health Agency Office/Virtual Visit Request Form
• Associate/Vendor Virtual Visit Request Form

Senator Ed Hooper (middle) with HCAF's Kyle Simon and Denise Bellville	Representative Kim Berfield (middle) with HCAF's Denise Bellville and Kyle Simon	CBS Tampa Investigative Reporter Emerald Morrow with HCAF's Denise Bellville
Evergreen Private Care's Starr Zolton (third from left), Megan Merrifield (second from right), and David Snyder (right) with HCAF's Denise Bellville, Jessica Devine, and Kyle Simon	Spotlight Family Caregiving Forum in Tampa	U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (middle) with HCAF's Denise Bellville and Kyle Simon