The Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF) brought Florida’s home care priorities to Washington, D.C., this week, joining home care and hospice advocates from across the state for the National Alliance for Care at Home’s second annual Advocacy Week.

HCAF Executive Director Denise Bellville, RN, BS, and Senior Director of Policy, Advocacy & Communications Kyle Simon participated alongside Florida providers and Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association President and CEO Paul Ledford. Together, the Florida delegation met with congressional staff to advocate for policies that protect access to care at home, strengthen the workforce, and support providers serving patients and families throughout the state.

National Alliance for Care at Home Advocacy Week Photo Album

Held September 13-16, the event brought together more than 150 advocates nationwide for meetings with 285 congressional offices, according to the Alliance. Programming included policy briefings, training for first-time advocates, and a panel discussion with experienced government affairs professionals to prepare participants for their Capitol Hill meetings.

The Florida delegation met with staff from 14 congressional offices, including Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody and Representatives Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Kathy Castor, Neal Dunn, Laurel Lee, Anna Paulina Luna, Jimmy Patronis, Darren Soto, Greg Steube, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Daniel Webster.

Bellville, Simon, and Ledford led teams of Florida home care and hospice advocates in these bipartisan discussions, bringing a shared focus on protecting access to care at home.

These coordinated visits brought home care and hospice advocates together around shared concerns while giving congressional offices an opportunity to hear directly from the organizations and professionals serving Floridians.

The week’s advocacy centered on five federal priorities:

• End the home health and hospice provider moratoria: Advocates called for targeted, risk-based enforcement that addresses misconduct while protecting patients and legitimate providers.
• Strengthen program integrity without restricting access: The Alliance urged data-driven Medicare and Medicaid oversight and support for the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act (H.R. 8883).
• Stabilize Medicare home health payments: Advocates sought support for the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act (S. 5250) to address payment pressures and protect patients’ access to services.
• Protect Medicaid home and community-based services: Participants emphasized the importance of policies and funding that support care in homes and communities, including investment in the direct care workforce.
• Support family caregivers: Advocates promoted the Credit for Caring Act (S. 925/H.R. 2036) which would provide a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 to help eligible family caregivers offset caregiving expenses.

For HCAF, these priorities reflect the connection between federal policy and the ability of Florida providers to deliver dependable care. Payment stability, a sufficient workforce, and effective oversight all matter to patients who rely on services at home — and to the families helping them remain there.

HCAF thanks the congressional staff who met with the Florida delegation, the providers and advocates who participated, and Ledford and the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association for their partnership. Working together across home care and hospice strengthens Florida’s voice in Washington and keeps patients, families, and access to care at the center of the discussion.